HC Deb 21 February 1946 vol 419 cc276-7W
Mr. S. Silverman

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, why Siegfried Gembicki, a Jewish refugee from Germany who escaped from a German concentration camp where all his relatives were murdered, was interned in this country for over six years and then sent back to Germany against his will and by force without means, friends or home; and what crimes this man had committed to deserve this penalty.

Mr. Ede:

There is no evidence that this man was a refugee from Nazi oppression, but he has nine convictions in Germany and France (from which country he was twice expelled) for fraud, embezzlement and similar offences. He entered this country by impersonating a Danish subject. He was convicted here of making false statements to a registration officer and other offences under the Aliens Order, and was recommended by the Court for deportation. This could not be done before the war and, in view of his former service in the German Air Force and of his criminal record, he was interned during the war as an alien of enemy nationality. When circumstances permitted, he was repatriated as an undesirable alien.

Mr. S. Silverman

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why Miklos Hanna, a Hungarian Jewish refugee, who escaped from the Auschwitz and Buchenwald death camps, has been for eight months detained in ooI Camp, Beltane School, in the company of Nazi party members, S.A. men and S.S. men; why he is not allowed to communicate with anyone outside; and when he will be released.

Mr. Ede:

This man was refused leave to land when he attempted to enter under the false claim that he was a British subject. It would be wrong to encourage the idea that persons who reach our ports by false pretences will be allowed to stop here, but as the efforts to dispose suitably of this man have not yet succeeded, J have released him from detention. He was allowed to communicate with persons outside the place in which he was detained and my correspondence shows that he communicated with a number of hon. Members of this House.

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