§ 84. Mr. D. Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the hardship being inflicted on British nationals domiciled in France, caught and interned by the Germans in June and July, 1940, who have received no compensation for the hardships undergone at the hands of the German authorities; that they are now being called upon to refund the monthly advances received during their internment; that these refunds are being requested in terms of sterling which increases the amount they are called upon to pay in terms of francs by two-and-half times; and whether he will consider compensating these people for their hardships and forgo the claim for refund of advances made to them.
§ Mr. MayhewHis Majesty's Government are of course aware of the hardships suffered by British subjects interned by the enemy. On the other hand, such internment did not exceed the recognised rights of belligerents and, in the opinion of His Majesty's Government, does not of itself provide grounds for claiming compensation. During their internment British subjects received pocket money in local currency from British public funds through the representatives of the Protecting Power against their signed undertakings to repay the equivalent in sterling on demand. Repayment by instalments is accepted where necessary and is waived altogether in cases of financial hardship.