§ Mr. Longdenasked the Secretary of State for War what the British administration is now doing to implement the humanitarian principles of the Potsdam Agreement with regard to the transfer of populations and to end the suffering which has been inflicted on large numbers of German people, particularly women and children, through separation of families, lack of shelter and inadequate provision of food; and when this state of things is likely to end.
§ Mr. BellengerFollowing on the recommendations of the Potsdam Conference,248W the Control Commission in Germany were instructed to examine the problem from the point of view of equitable distribution of transferred Germans among the several zones. The Control Commission have been asked to complete their report with the greatest possible speed, and in the meantime it has been suggested to the Governments mainly concerned that further expulsion should be suspended. The Germans already transferred are almost entirely outside the British zone and are therefore not subject to the control of the British authorities.
§ Flying-Officer Leverasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that displaced persons who are Jews are, in many cases, compelled to live in camp with Nazis, who, because of their political records have refused to return to their homes; and if he will take immediate steps to remedy this position.
§ Mr. BellengerI am informed that no instances are known of displaced persons, Jewish or otherwise, in the British zone in Germany, being compelled to live in camps with Nazis of any description.
§ Flying-Officer Leverasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the conditions of extreme hardship under which displaced persons in camps in the British zone of Germany are living; and if he will at once take steps to provide warm clothing and improved living conditions for these people in view of the approach of winter.
§ Mr. BellengerI am unable to accept the suggestion that displaced persons in the British zone in Germany are living in conditions of extreme hardship. Everything possible is being done to ensure that living conditions are as good as is practicable. The provision of warm clothing for the winter is receiving special attention.
§ Flying-Officer Leverasked the Secretary of State for War if he will consider taking action, similar to that found necessary by President Truman in the American zone, to ensure that measures ordered for the welfare of displaced persons are, in fact, carried into effect.
§ Mr. BellengerI am satisfied that everything is being done in the British zone in Germany to ensure that our own policy, namely, that the best living conditions consistent with available resources are provided for displaced persons, is carried into effect.