§ 21. Mr. Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in view of the recent order issued by the Military Government in Germany, how many newspapers were found to be published in Western Germany using the names under which they were published during the Nazi era; and how many newspapers were found to have the previous Nazi editors again editing them.
§ Mr. BevinUp to the time when the Allied High Commission Press law, to which I assume my hon. Friend is referring, was promulgated on 21st September, 1949, licensing continued in the British zone, and there were therefore no newspapers of the type referred to.
§ Mr. JannerWill my right hon. Friend say whether any have been published since and whether among those to be published is that horrible, pornographic paper "Der Sturmer," and is he aware that the printer of that paper has intimated that he proposes to publish it? If so, will my right hon. Friend take steps to see that that paper is not published and that even its name is not used because it stinks in the nostrils of every decent person?
§ Mr. BevinI cannot interfere in this business now; I could interfere while we held the control of the licence.
§ Mr. GallacherIs the Minister aware that if he had carried out his own promise to nationalise the industries in the British zone of Germany this question would not have arisen?
§ Mr. BevinI am extremely anxious to nationalise them in all Germany and so prevent them getting into the hands of the Soviet.
§ Squadron-Leader FlemingIs it a fact that "Der Sturmer" is still being circulated in the Western zone of Germany?
§ Mr. JannerWill my right hon. Friend investigate the matter again, because I am under the impression that we still have control over the publication of these papers, and, if that is the case, will he see to it that papers of this nature are not published?
§ Mr. BevinWe have overall powers of intervention, but not in every detail of everything that occurs in Germany now.
§ 30. Mr. Piratinasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent he retains power to control the newspapers and journals which were permitted to be republished in the Western zone of Germany, many of which are continuing the Fascist and anti-Semitic propaganda which they published formerly; and what action he is taking in this matter.
§ Mr. BevinThe only powers reserved by the Western Allies over the German Press in their zones, are contained in the Allied High Commission Law on Press, Radio, Information and Entertainment, a copy of which I am having placed in the Library. This Law contains provisions enabling the High Commissioners to intervene to prevent measures being taken which threaten the freedom of the Press and to take action against newspapers printing matters which offend against the prestige and security of the Occupying Powers. No evidence of such propaganda as is mentioned in the Question has come to my notice, and the second half of the Question, therefore, does not arise.
§ Mr. PiratinArising from the last part of the answer, that no evidence has been furnished, may I ask whether it is not the case that ample evidence has been furnished by several organisations, including the Jewish Board of Deputies, who received a very sympathetic reply from the Minister's noble Friend in another place? Will the Minister further consider what can be done to prevent these outrages?
§ Mr. Sydney SilvermanIn view of what my right hon. Friend has said about the connection between dismantling factories and the security of Europe, may I ask whether he does not think that the security of Europe would be better served by preventing the rise again of Nazism in Germany than by pulling down factories which can be used for peaceful purposes?
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Member is asking for an opinion and not for information.