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, with reference to a reply given by them in this House on July 8 relating to the 1953 Krupp deconcentration of assets agreement, in what manner they interpret the statement of the Federal Government that the Krupp holdings need be sold only, amongst other considerations, on a basis compatible with the German public interest.]
THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (THE EARL OF GOSFORD)My Lords, Her Majesty's Government understand that what the Federal German Government mean by saying that the Krupp holdings need be sold, amongst other considerations, only "on a basis compatible with the German public interest", is that there is no compulsion on the German Government to sell to non-German buyers.
VISCOUNT ELIBANKMy Lords, I thank the noble Earl for his Answer. Is he aware that Article 6 of Law 27, which I understand is still in force, expressly dissociates Law 27 from having any regard to the German public interest in the carrying out the provisions of the law? If that is so, perhaps the noble Earl will kindly study that article before I raise this question on the foreign affairs debate on July 28.