97. Major Lloydasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the Provisional Government in Warsaw have decreed that all Poles must register at the Provisional Government Consulate in London before 30th April, 1946, otherwise they will lose their nationality and become Stateless nomads; 239W and what representations is His Majesty's Government making to the Provisional Government in Warsaw on the subject.
§ Mr. P. Noel-Baker:No such action as that described by the hon. and gallant Gentleman has been taken by the Polish Provisional Government. On 28th January the Polish Consulate-General in London issued a notice to the Press stating that they were arranging for the registration between 1st February and 30th April of all Polish citizens resident in the United Kingdom, except those on active military service. No mention was made of loss of nationality and other penalties for those who failed to comply. A Government is entirely within its rights in seeking to compile a register of its nationals through its consulates abroad. In view of these facts, therefore, no representations to the Polish Government are called for, and none have been made.