§ 20. Mr. Skeffington-Lodgeasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he intends to allow Joachim von Ostau and Pastor Goebel, leaders of the League of Independent Germans and the Action Committee of Free Germans, respectively, to continue their political activities in Western Germany; and what action he proposes in the case of these and other German nationals who are using ostensibly non-political associations for nationalist propaganda.
Mr. McNeilNeither the Independent Germans nor the Action Committee of Free Germans have been licensed as political groups. Pastor Goebel's application for a licence will be refused; no application has been received from Herr von Ostau. My right hon. Friend is satisfied that the vigilance exercised as a matter of course by the Military Governor is sufficient to guard against the kind of danger which my hon. Friend has in mind, and it is not, therefore, proposed to take any special action in these cases.
§ Mr. Skeffington-LodgeDoes that mean that these two individuals named in my Question will be allowed a free hand to continue their present activities in Western Germany?
Mr. McNeilNo, Sir. I have drawn attention to the residual authority, and have said that in the case of Pastor Goebel, he will be refused a licence.
§ 21. Mr. Skeffington-Lodgeasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the nature of the Action Committee of Free Germans established in the British zone of Germany; and what decision has been reached about its leader's application to run candidates for elections.
Mr. McNeilThe Action Committee of Free Germans, which would be virtually a refugee party, has not been established in the British zone. Pastor Goebel, who has proposed that such a body should be set up, is being officially informed that it cannot be recognised as a political party.
§ Mr. Skeffington-LodgeBut is it to be recognised as an organisation which is allowed to function in Western Germany?—because if that is so, its dangerous neo-nationalist leanings may have serious repercussions.
Mr. McNeilIt is very difficult to understand what my hon. Friend means. He has put down a Question relating to this group functioning as a political party, to which I have precisely and negatively replied. If he is asking me what Pastor Goebel is being permitted to think, then of course I have no answer.
§ 22. Mr. Skeffington-Lodgeasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many licences for the establishment of new non-political organisations have been issued in Western Germany; and what investigation of the character of these bodies is undertaken before applications are granted.
Mr. McNeilThe responsibility for licensing and investigating the character of non-political organisations in Western Germany rests with the German authorities and not with Military Government. It is not known how many of these licences have been issued. Military Government would immediately investigate any non-political organisation, indulging in undesirable political activities.
§ Mr. Skeffington-LodgeIs my right hon. Friend not aware that a good many of these organisations which are ostensibly non-political are indulging in political propaganda; and that being so, will he not bring some pressure to bear on the German authorities so that this kind of thing shall stop?
Mr. McNeilI should be glad to investigate any information which my hon. Friend gives me upon this subject, but I am a little reluctant to agree that we should press the military authorities. The ordinance defining what activities are legitimate or legal is fairly widely drawn, and it does provide for propaganda 1352 against the occupation authorities, propaganda relating to the fomenting of war feeling, and propaganda relating to the recreation of nationalist feeling.
§ Mr. Skeffington-LodgeAs, on the whole, I regard my right hon. Friend's replies to these three Questions as being not fully satisfactory, and as there is a real danger of the revival of Nazism in Germany through the organisations named in my Questions, I give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible moment.