Herr Krupp

HC Deb 10 November 1952 vol 507 cc584-5

38. Mrs. Castle

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps the Allied High Commission in Germany is taking to prevent Herr Alfred Krupp from regaining control of the coal and steel industries which he formerly possessed.

Mr. Nutting

As stated by my right hon. Friend on 15th October, discussions are taking place between Her Majesty's Government and the Federal German Government to devise means of ensuring that Herr Krupp shall not be allowed to use the proceeds of the sale of his holdings to buy his way back into the coal and steel industries or otherwise to acquire a controlling interest. These discussions are still in progress.

Mrs. Castle

Is it not a fact that the Federal German Government are placing difficulties in the way of the carrying out of the promise which the right hon. Gentleman made to the House on 15th October that Herr Krupp should not be allowed to buy his way back? Can the House have an assurance that Her Majesty's Government will resist pressure from whatever quarter it may come to give Krupp a new place in the coal and steel industry?

Mr. Nutting

As the hon. Lady knows, this is a matter which has to be negotiated with the German Government. So far as I am aware, they are making no difficulties in this matter, but it is a very complicated question involving consideration of the constitutional law of the Federal Republic and other such problems.

As to my right hon. Friend's promise, might I correct the impression given by the hon. Lady? He promised to do his utmost to devise means whereby this end could be achieved.

Mr. E. Fletcher

Why does the Minister say that this has to be negotiated with the Federal Government? Can we not have an assurance that this will be dealt with by the Allied Occupation Commission under the present regime before the Bonn Treaties are finally ratified?

Mr. Nutting

Surely it will be much better to do this with the co-operation of the Federal German Government, who are, as the hon. Member knows, about to take over responsibility for all these matters.