§ 2.54 p.m.
VISCOUNT ELIBANKMy Lords, I beg to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, seeing that in the last week in April Herr Alfred Krupp von Bohlen and Halbach came out openly against the Allied order to deconcentrate his concern, they can now state the nature of the reply received by them from the Federal Government on 29th April, and the result of the discussions thereon, and can give an assurance that their policy is directed to ensuring that Herr Krupp shall not be released from any of his undertakings under the 1953 deconcentration agreement.]
THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (THE EARL OF GOSFORD)My Lords, where Krupp interests are concerned, the Federal Government's reply recorded the disposals of which I informed the noble Viscount on December 11, 1957, and February 18 of this year, and stated in addition that Krupp stock worth approximately £2 million in the Harz-Lahn-Erzbergbau A.G. had also been disposed of. In relation to Krupp holdings not yet sold, it discussed the economic difficulties over further disposal which my noble friend mentioned on April 16. These include the fact that no serious offers to buy the holdings in question have been received on terms which would be regarded as an economic proposition. In the German view, their obligations in the Krupp plan itself and under the Bonn Settlement Convention are qualified by the consideration that the holdings need be sold only on economically tolerable terms and on a basis compatible with the German public interest. The reply from the Federal Government also discussed the relevance to this matter of the European Coal and Steel Community Treaty, according to which the High Authority of that Community has to consider the questions of 682 industrial concentrations in Europe. The noble Viscount will recollect that the Bonn Settlement Convention also recognised the relevance of that Treaty.
As to the second part of the noble Viscount's Question, discussion with the French and United States Governments continues. Until decisions have been reached, I can add nothing to previous replies.
VISCOUNT ELIBANKMy Lords, I beg to thank the noble Earl for his Answer. Is he aware that the last two sentences are most disappointing—that no assurance can be given to the effect to which I asked? May I ask the noble Earl this question? Is he aware that it is common knowledge in newspaper circles in Bonn that the West Federal Government are doing nothing to prevent this employer of slave labour, Herr Krupp, from defying the 1953 deconcentration agreement? And is he further aware that the Krupp assets are being employed with the connivance of the West Federal Government to compote with British traders throughout the world?
THE EARL OF GOSFORDMy Lords. I should be grateful if the noble Viscount would serve me with the evidence of the two remarks which he has just made.