§ Mr. ARMITAGEasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the soldiers of General Haller's army participated in anti-Jewish excesses on 26th June in Warsaw, in which the beards of several Jews were torn out, and that they have also assaulted and injured Jews in other towns besides Czerstochau, concerning which he informed the House on 5thJune; and whether, as all representations to the Polish Government to suppress the anti-Jewish outrages have hitherto failed, he will consider the advisability of His Majesty's Government withholding any further support, either in the 1676W form of money, equipment, or munitions, from any part of the Polish Army until the latter ceases to commit violence against citizens of Poland of a different race and religion?
Mr. HARMSWORTHThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. While I am not prepared to accept the suggestion contained in the last part of the question that representations addressed to the Polish Government have had no effect, I may remind the hon. Member that His Majesty's Government are dispatching a Commission to Poland with the particular object of investigating the position of Jews in that country. It is not in contemplation, therefore, to take action in the sense suggested. I may add that recent reports show that the Polish authorities have been punishing anti-Jewish excesses by executions and imprisonments of offenders.
Lieut.-Commander KEN WORTHYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can now announce the names of the members of the proposed Commission for investigating the anti-Jewish outrages in Poland; whether this Commission will include a Jewish representative; and when they will start on their journey?
Mr. HARMSWORTHThe answer to the first part of the question asked by the hon. and gallant Member is that invitations have been issued to two gentlemen, but one of them has not yet replied; to the second, that it is hoped to secure the services of a representative who will be acceptable to the Jewish community. I can at present give no definite date for the departure of the Mission, but everything possible is being done to accelerate the necessary arrangements being made.