§ 1. Professor Savoryasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will now state what progress has been made with the evacuation of refugees from South Schleswig; and whether he is aware that refugees are still pouring in to South Schleswig, so that the native population is overwhelmed by the number of these immigrants from East Prussia and Pomerania.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Mayhew)The distribution of refugees within the Federal Republic is now a matter for the German authorities.
§ Professor SavoryWill not the Under-Secretary give us the reply made yesterday by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to the protests of the Swedish, Danish and Norwegian Ambassadors, and the Icelandic Minister, against this continued influx of refugees into South Schleswig, which constitutes a terrible danger on account of the pressure on the Danish frontier?
§ Mr. MayhewThat is a different question. I am dealing here with the distribution inside the Federal German Republic, which is not a matter for His Majesty's Government.
§ Professor SavoryIs it not a fact that there is a continued influx? Is not the Under-Secretary aware of the statement made by the Danish Secretary of State, that between April and June, 1949, no fewer than 17,000 additional refugees poured into South Schleswig?
§ Mr. MayhewWe are aware that this is a great problem. As far as the influx across the interzonal frontier is concerned, we are considering new proposals to control and restrict the influx without interfering with the rights of political asylum of those coming across.
§ Sir Ronald RossIs the situation now one in which we have abandoned the Danes in South Schleswig to the Germans?
§ Mr. MayhewThat is another question.