§ 62. Mr. Zilliacusasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty when he will be able to give information to the parents of John Black P/MX 724753 as to where he is buried; when they may visit his grave; and what steps have been taken to secure compensation from the Italian Government and punishment of the Italian Customs Official who deliberately shot and killed W.T.R. John Black a year and a half ago.
Mr. DugdaleWriter Black's mother was informed on 28th October, 1946, by the Commodore Royal Naval Barracks, Portsmouth, that her son was buried in the British part of Savona Cemetery. Information was received in the Admiralty on 18th February, 1948, that Writer Black had been re-interred in Genoa Cemetery and Mrs. Black has been informed of the details. This cemetery can be visited at any time.
The Italian finance guard, who fired the shot that killed Black, was tried on 29th May, 1947, in the Italian Courts on a charge of murder and acquitted. In view of this the Italian Government are not liable for compensation; moreover even if he had been found guilty, I understand that, during the armistice period in any situation where either His Majesty's Government or the Italian Government might claim compensation from the other in respect of damage or injury to its employees or property, a knock for knock agreement was in force. Mrs. Black was invited to apply to the Ministry of Pensions for the award of a parent's pension.
On the other hand, His Majesty's Government are not satisfied with all aspects of the trial at which no representative of the dead man was given an opportunity to be present, at which no British witnesses were called and of the outcome of which they were not informed until 21st October, 1947, despite repeated inquiries. The question of the steps now open to His Majesty's Government is under consideration.