HC Deb 18 February 1959 vol 600 cc345-6
27. Mr. E. Johnson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs for what reason Herr Alfred Krupp has been allowed another year in which to carry out the terms of the 1953 Deconcentration Agreement, under which he should have disposed of his steel and coal holdings by 31st January, 1958.

29. Mr. Healey

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what protest he has made to the West German Government regarding its failure to ensure the implementation of Allied Law No. 27.

40. Mr. Bevan

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the conditions which will need to be fulfilled to the satisfaction of the Mixed Committee constituted under the terms of the Bonn Settlement Convention before extensions of time are granted to Herr Krupp for the disposal of his holdings.

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

As my hon. Friend explained in his reply to the right hon. Member for Ebbw Vale (Mr. Bevan) on 4th February, an extension of time has not been granted to Herr Krupp. No protest has been made to the Federal Government since the question of extensions of time in which to fulfil remaining obligations to sell under Allied High Commission Law Number 27 is to be considered by a Mixed Committee, as provided for in the Bonn Settlement Convention. This Committee can grant an extension of time if the applicant establishes that, without it, the securities could not, with the exercise of reasonable efforts, be disposed of on reasonable terms and on a basis compatible with the German public interest and without a disruptive effect on the German capital market.

Mr. Johnson

Will Her Majesty's Government oppose such an extension? Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is already a great deal of public indignation at the lenient way in which this large-scale exploiter of slave labour, who was indirectly responsible for the loss of many British lives, has already been treated?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

The most important thing is that we should carry out the terms of the Bonn Convention, which lays down that in a case of this kind a Mixed Committee should be set up. I think that to give judgment before the Mixed Committee has made any report would be quite wrong.

Mr. P. Noel-Baker

Is not it a fact that the family of Krupp had a very bad record before the First World War and also before the Second World War in building up the Hitler movement? Is not it a fact that Krupp has already begun to assemble military aircraft and that he is now taking a part in a large combine for military aircraft production?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

The right hon. Gentleman has made a certain number of statements. I do not think I am called upon to comment on them.

Mr. J. Griffiths

Will the Minister bear in mind that both in the House and in the country there is very deep feeling about this matter? I hope that the Government will express the feeling of the whole country about it.

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

We will certainly bear that in mind.

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