§ Mr. J. BUTLERasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any, and, if so, what, arrangement has been come to between the British and French authorities on the subject of transit between the British occupied area and unoccupied Germany?
§ Mr. McNEILLSpecial restrictions on traffic between occupied and unoccupied territory were introduced by Rhineland Ordinance No. 167 in which His Majesty's representative on the High Commission did not participate and to which His Majesty's Government were not prepared to give effect in the British zone. This Ordinance did not of course alter the position of nationals of the occupying powers who were exempted from its provisions. As regards German nationals, however, it was necessary to make a special arrangement with the French and Belgian authorities in order to prevent a suspension of traffic between the British zone and unoccupied Germany. Under this arrangement applications forlaissez-passer are made to and laissez-passer are issued by the German authorities in the British zone. When these documents have been stamped by an officer of the intelligence service in the British Army they are recognised by all French and Belgian control posts as valid to enable the holders to travel to and from the British zone.