HC Deb 25 June 1952 vol 502 cc2230-2
25. Mr. Janner

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the proposed appointment to London by the German Federal Republic of Miss Susanne Simonis to look after the welfare of 30,000 German girls and women working in this country; and as Miss Susanne Simonis held a post as a Nazi leader among German women in Japan, whether he will inform the German Federal Republic that such an appointment does not meet with the approval of Her Majesty's Government.

26. Mr. George Craddock

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that Frau Simonis, cousin of Herr Ereich von Kordt of the German Foreign Office, who has been appointed to the German Consulate General in London as Women's Labour Officer and who will take over on 16th June, previously held a similar position in Tokyo under the Hitler regime as Frauenshafs-leiterein; and if he will make representations to the West German Government that this official should be withdrawn.

Mr. Nutting

I am aware that Frau Simonis has been appointed to the staff of the German Diplomatic Mission in London. As to her work in Tokyo, I understand that she held no official post in the German Embassy but acted as hostess to her cousin, Dr. Erich Kordt.

I see no reason for making any representation on this matter to the German Federal Government.

Mr. Janner

Is not the hon. Gentleman aware that there is a considerable amount of agitation in Germany about this woman, and that under the Ribben-trop Nazi regime at the Embassy in London we had similar cases of women who were controlling the Germans in this country? Is it not essential that whoever is brought here for this purpose shall have an absolutely clean record?

Mr. Nutting

As the hon. Gentleman has referred to German Embassy employees before the war, perhaps I might say that Frau Simonis was not employed by the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs at any time before the end of the war and that the competent committee of the Bundestag recently cleared her completely of any charges of Nazism after an attack had been made upon her in the German Press.

Mr. S. O. Davies

Is not the hon. Gentleman aware that this person has been rejected for the German Consulates in both Sweden and Italy, and was not the Bonn Government recently compelled, because of a terrific outcry, to sack her from her post as head of the Women's Labour Personnel? Surely he has some information about her.

Mr. Nutting

I have some information about her, and the premise upon which the hon. Gentleman has based his supplementary question is completely untrue. It is not true that Frau Simonis was nominated for an appointment either in Rome or in Stockholm and was refused.

Mr. Craddock

Is it not a fact that there is considerable disquiet about the appointment of this lady? When she was recently appointed as Women's Labour Officer for West Germany, did not the West German Press raise an outcry against the appointment, as a result of which she had to be demoted? I cannot understand why we should attempt to whitewash a Nazi who has been appointed to this post.

Mr. Nutting

It is not a question of my attempting to whitewash a Nazi. This lady has been completely cleared of the charges of Nazi associations by the competent committee of the Bundestag. It is not for me to comment on what the West German Press says. It is for me to satisfy myself about this woman's previous record, and I am satisfied about that record; and, therefore, I see no reason whatsoever to make any representations to the West German Government.

Mr. Bellenger

Is it desirable that the British Parliament should be used to further the purpose of a vendetta in Germany against a lady whose name has not only been cleared by the Parliament of that country but also commended for her anti-Nazi activities by the particular authority concerned?

Mr. Nutting

I should have thought that any such attempt by any Member of this House would be grossly improper.