§ 50. Mr. Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why Grand Admiral Doenitz was allowed to enter into contracts with the Athænum Publishing Company whilst serving his sentence in Spandau Gaol; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Selwyn LloydThe hon. Member is misinformed. Doenitz has not been allowed to enter into contracts with any publishing company.
§ Mr. LewisIs the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that I and other hon. Members have seen photostat copies of the handwriting of Admiral Doenitz on the proofs sent to the printers? Will the right hon, and learned Gentleman look into this again to ensure that it is stopped? If we would like to see the photostats, I will arrange to show them to him.
§ Mr. LloydI will certainly look at anything that the hon. Member sends me. As to the facts which he has raised, Doenitz has not been allowed to enter into any contracts.
§ 52 and 53. Mr. Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs' (1) whether he will approach the West German Federal Government to seek an assurance that they will not employ in any military position the German war criminal Grand Admiral Karl Doenitz on his release from Spandau Gaol at the termination of his sentence next month;
(2) if he will approach the West German Federal Government to seek an assurance that Grand Admiral Doenitz will not be allowed to take up any military position in the European Defence Community on his release from Spandau at the termination of his sentence next month.
§ Mr. LewisIn asking these Questions, may I say that the last word in each case should be "year" and not "month."
§ Mr. Selwyn LloydThe hon. Member is still misinformed. Doenitz' sentence expires in September, 1956, and it is not intended that he should be released before then.
§ Mr. LewisThat is very welcome, but will the right hon. and learned Gentleman now answer the Question and say whether he will make an approach to the German Government to ensure that this war criminal is not employed in any military position?
§ Mr. LloydAny appointment of a prisoner such as Doenitz, who was formerly a Grand Admiral in the German Fleet, would have to be subject to the unanimous approval of E.D.C.
§ Mr. J. HyndIn the circumstances, will the right hon. and learned Gentleman make it clear that the best way to ensure that no war criminals of this kind are allowed to hold positions as German military officers in future would be the ratification of E.D.C. and that, otherwise, it may be inevitable?
§ 59. Mr. Warbeyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on what date ex-Admiral Doenitz will be released from Spandau prison.
§ Mr. Selwyn LloydSeptember, 1956.
§ Mr. WarbeyAs the E.D.C. Treaty would not prevent Admiral Doenitz from being appointed Admiral of the Home Fleet of the German Home Waters Navy, will the right hon. and learned Gentleman give an assurance that every step will be taken by Her Majesty's Government to prevent this man from ever being employed again in a military position when he is released?
§ Mr. LloydThe hon. Gentleman's Question dealt with the date of his release, and that is what I have answered.