§ 15. Miss Burtonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is now in a position to give an estimate of the total sum awarded to Herr Krupp as compensation.
§ Mr. NuttingThe amount will depend on what Herr Krupp's securities realise when they are sold.
§ Miss BurtonDoes the Under-Secretary realise the very real indignation felt in this country and elsewhere at this state of affairs? Does he know that I have here a letter from the former technical controller in Germany dealing with this matter, who states that all the evidence obtained by the Americans for their case against Herr Krupp went through his office and that the worst indictment proved is that of crimes against humanity? If Her Majesty's Government can do nothing else, will they in common decency make a protest about this compensation?
§ Mr. NuttingNo question of compensation arises. Under the Allied High Commission law under which the German coal and steel industries are to be broken up into small units, those who are forced by the terms of that law to sell their securities are entitled to keep the proceeds of the sale of those securities unless they have been sentenced by some other tribunal to confiscation. In Herr Krupp's case the sentence of the confiscation of his property was revoked.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerBut will the hon. Gentleman make it plain to the Government of the West German Federal Republic that there is a feeling in many countries that it is extremely dangerous that a man with Herr Krupp's record should have this vast sum of money in his hands?
§ Mr. NuttingWe are, as the right hon. Gentleman knows, doing our utmost to devise some means whereby we may ensure that Herr Krupp will not be allowed to buy his way back into the coal and steel industries of Germany, or otherwise to acquire a controlling interest. In other words, what we are trying to do is to stop up the hole that was left by the late Government.