§ 3. Mr. Platts-Millsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that in the Bi-zonal Economic Office now to be transferred from Minden to Frankfurt-on-Main, the following are still employed in leading positions: Dr. Werkmeister and Herr Schaaf, under accusation for war crimes; Dr. Reifferscheidt, leader of the Nazi industrial organisation for the Rhineland from 1935; Dr. Sogemann, leader of the Nazi coal administration; Herr Hagemann, leader of the Nazi textiles administration; Dr. Schöne, official in various Nazi ministries; and why former leaders of the Nazi war economy are employed to help democratise Germany.
Mr. McNeilNo one named Sogemann is so employed. Only Reifferscheidt was a member of the Nazi Party and his membership, it has been established, was purely nominal. These persons have all been cleared by German denazification panels, except Werkmeister, and his case is at present being scrutinised. Germans with valuable technical qualifications who were not active Nazis and are not otherwise potentially dangerous are indispensable in the reconstruction of Germany.
§ 4. Mr. Platts-Millsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent representatives of trades unions and other democratic organisations are appointed to positions of control in the bi-zonal adminstration.
Mr. McNeilNo representatives of trades union or other democratic organisations have been appointed as such to positions of control in the bi-zonal administration, but many trade unionists have been appointed in virtue of their political representation.