§ 30. Sir B. Jannerasked the Minister of Defence what steps he is taking to ensure that former Nazis and neo-Nazis are not included amongst those Germans who will be coming to this country for military training.
§ Mr. WatkinsonNo such steps are contemplated.
§ Sir B. JannerSurely the right hon Gentleman is not saying that anybody, whether he has a Nazi background, happens to have been of high ranking order in the Nazi set-up, or is a neo-Nazi, will be allowed into this country in order to spread that sort of vicious doctrine? Is not something going to be done about it? Will the right hon. Gentleman consult the Home Office or the Foreign Secretary about what is to be done?
§ Mr. WatkinsonThe hon. Gentleman might take note of two things, first, the extreme care with which the Federal German Republic acted when its forces carried out similar training in France, entirely without any incident or objection, and, secondly, that ever since the new German forces were raised by the Democratic Government immense care has been taken to screen not only the forces but all servants of the Government against Nazi backgrounds.
§ Sir B. JannerBut surely in a case of this description the right hon. Gentleman will make it known to those who are going to send troops here that we do not and will not tolerate the spreading of that kind of doctrine in this country?
§ Mr. WatkinsonThat goes without saying, and it is just as clearly known to the German Government as to the hon. Gentleman.
§ Sir L. PlummerHas the Minister any information to show that the Federal Government have checked on Heusinger and his association with the Nazi Party?
§ Mr. WatkinsonThat is quite another matter. I think that the gentleman whom the hon. Gentleman mentions was involved in the plot against Hitler.
§ Sir B. JannerIn view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, Mr. Speaker, I give notice that I propose to raise this matter again at an early opportunity.