HC Deb 24 February 1942 vol 378 cc33-4W
Mr. Wilson

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether the court of inquiry set up to inquire into the conduct of military personnel on board the "Dunera" dealt with the conduct of the military before embarkation which was complained of in the memorandum submitted to the High Commissioner for the United Kingdom in Australia in December, 1940; how many refugee internees gave evidence on this pre-embarkation conduct either before the court of inquiry

or before any of the three courts-martial; and whether the names of these refugees internees can be communicated;

(2) upon whose authority as a preliminary to their embarkation in the "Dunera," the promises to the refugee internees in the Lingfield, Huyton, Central Camp, Douglas, and the Onchan Camp were made; to what extent the failure to carry these out were due to the Government in the United Kingdom; whether there has been an inquiry regarding the promises as stated in the memorandum submitted to the High Commissioner for the United Kingdom in Australia in December, 1940; and, if so, by whom and with what results?

Mr. Sandys

The conduct of military personnel before embarkation complained of in the memorandum to the High Commissioner was among the matters investigated by the court of inquiry. Evidence was given by Mr. Kittell, the only one of the internees available in this country at the time. I am unable to identify the promises which my hon. Friend has in mind. There is no mention of any promises in the memorandum referred to in the Question.