Herr Alfried Krupp (Hansard, 15 February 1961)

§ 15. Sir L. Plummer
asked the Lord Privy Seal what were the results of the conversations that he has had with the Federal Government of Western Germany about the compensation to be paid by Herr Alfried Krupp to the non-Jewish survivors of the forced labour employed by his company during the last war.

§ Mr. Godber
No such discussions have been held.

§ Sir L. Plummer
Why not? Is the hon. Gentleman aware that 80,000 slave workers were employed by Krupp, that many thousands of them died as the result of the appalling conditions under which they lived, and that last year Krupp agreed to the grant of about £400 a year to the Jewish survivors but has hitherto refused adamantly to give anything to the non-Jewish survivors? As this convicted war criminal has got away for the third year running without his complex organisation being split up, is it not up to the Government now to make representations on the part of the unfortunate people who worked for him so miserably and under such horrible conditions?

§ Mr. Godber
There are other Questions on the Order Paper today relating to the hon. Gentleman's last point. On the other points, of course, we would welcome any measures arranged by Herr Krupp to provide for the non-Jewish as well as for the Jewish. But this concerns citizens who are not in any way citizens of the United Kingdom, and I do not think that it is a matter in which we have a direct concern. We have a natural sympathetic interest, but we have no direct concern.

§ 24. Mr. Shinwell
asked the Lord Privy Seal what evidence of efforts made to sell the Krupp holdings in Western Germany was submitted to the Mixed Committee of Experts before a further extension of twelve months was granted.

§ 25. Mr. Shinwell
asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will state the conditions governing the retention of Krupp's holdings by Alfried Krupp.

§ Mr. Godber
Under the terms of the Bonn Settlement Convention, the Mixed Committee is not required to report to Governments the details of evidence which 1387 it has considered. The Settlement Convention lays down, however, that an extension of time may only be granted by the Committee provided that the applicant establishes to its satisfaction that his holdings cannot be disposed of … with the exercise of reasonable efforts, on reasonable terms and on a basis which is compatible with the German public interest, and that such disposition will not be possible within the remaining time without a disruptive effect on the German capital market". There are no other conditions governing the retention of these holdings.

§ Mr. Shinwell
From what the hon. Gentleman now says, is it not clear, although his statement is very belated—there is no doubt about that—that it is the German public interest that is the governing factor in the sale of the Krupps holdings? Are we now in the position that Her Majesty's Government are conniving at the delay in disposing of the Krupps holdings? Is it not the fact that this rascal Krupps got away with murder and is now getting away with the swag?

§ Mr. Godber
I could not agree that the British Government are conniving at anything. This is an arrangement that is laid down and which we are following with other signatories who are concerned in the matter. The Mixed Committee, as I am sure the right hon. Gentleman knows well, contains only one British representative out of a total of seven, and we have to abide by the decisions they take in regard to this matter. We have received their indication that another 12 months should be given. On the question of the crook getting away with the swag—to use the right hon. Gentleman's felicitous phrase—one must remember that, in fact, the intention never was to deprive Krupp of the proceeds—even had he sold he would still have had the proceeds of sale—so there is no question of getting away or not getting away with the swag.

§ Mr. Shinwell
But is it not the fact that our representative on the Mixed Committee is not pressing the demand which has been made in all quarters of the House during more than eight years that these holdings should be disposed of? Will our representative take urgent measures to ensure that the Krupp holdings are disposed of at the earliest possible date?

§ Mr. Godber
The gentleman concerned is not a direct Government representative, although nominated by Britain. We have no control over his actions. He is one member of the Mixed Committee. The Mixed Committee had to be satisfied, under the terms I have read out, before it gave a further twelve months' delay. I think that we must accept its decision in the matter, and in the light of that, I do not think that Her Majesty's Government can be blamed for the position now obtaining.