Lord JANNERMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
The Question was as follows:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the German Democratic Republic are yet prepared to compensate the victims of Nazi persecution for injuries inflicted on them and what steps have been and are being taken to compensate them and others whose property was seized by the Nazis.
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, the official position of the German Democratic Republic is that they have fulfilled their legal and moral obligations in this respect. During our preliminary round of talks with the GDR about out-standing financial and property questions, we made it clear that we shall wish to revert to the question of Nazi persecution claims in subsequent negotiations. We hope that the GDR may be persuaded to act as generously as the Federal Republic of Germany has done in compensating those who suffered under the Third Reich.
Lord JANNERMy Lords, I thank my noble friend for the reply which he has given to my Question. I wonder if he can say whether any action is being taken in conjunction with other nations whose citizens have been similarly affected by the persecution of the Nazis.
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSYes, my Lords. We are in close and con- 182 tinuous consultation with other friendly countries on these questions.
§ Lord PANNELLMy Lords, is my noble friend aware that it is a fiction in the German Democratic Republic that persecution occurred only in West Germany, and that one would never think that Ravensbruck concentration camp came under them? Therefore, will the noble Lord persist in his efforts to secure that the German Democratic Republic understand that they also have full responsibility to the Western Powers for the persecution?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, I can give that assurance. We have persisted, and are, and shall be persisting, in our representations to the German Democratic Republic that they have a moral obligation to compensate the sufferers from Nazi persecution, as well as a legal obligation to meet claims based on the loss of property.
Baroness WARD of NORTH TYNE-SIDEMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord when the communications started, how long they have been in operation and, if something does not happen, how long it will be before further representations are made to step up the matter very firmly?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, I entirely agree that this has gone on for far too long. However, it is a very complicated and difficult matter to persuade people, who do not agree with you about an obligation, to accept your view. But I can say that progress has been made to the extent that the necessary preliminary talks have been concluded. We are now hopefully moving to substantive talks.