§ 8. Mr. E Fletcherasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is now in a position to announce what arrangements have been made to prevent Herr Krupp from re-entering the coal, iron and steel industries.
§ The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Anthony Eden)I have, as yet, nothing to add to the supplementary answer given to the hon. Gentleman on 11th February.
§ Mr. FletcherIs the Foreign Secretary aware that reports are constantly appearing in the Press—two in today's morning 1703 newspapers—purporting to give details of the terms which have been agreed to? If those terms are correct they will cause very great anxiety in this country, but, if one has to assume from the answer that the terms have not yet been agreed, may we have an assurance that the right hon. Gentleman will secure the maximum cooperation of America to prevent Herr Krupp from again attaining a dominant place in German industry?
§ Mr. EdenWhat I can tell the hon. Member is that negotiations are now making good progress and I hope to make a statement in the very near future. I cannot give him a date, but we will make a statement as soon as we can.
§ Mr. BellengerMay we take it that the Western German Government are giving Her Majesty's Government every cooperation in this matter?
§ Mr. EdenI think it would be fair to say: Yes, Sir, within the limits of their own statutory obligations.