§ Mr. Pickthornasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why a prohibition has been placed on the activities of the Polish Association of Former Political Prisoners in Concentration Camps and Prisons.
MR. MCNEIL, pursuant to his' reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 23rd April, 1947; Vol. 436, c. 103.], supplied the following statement:
The Polish Association of Former Political Prisoners in Concentration Camps and Prisons seems to have been formed primarily, if not exclusively, for German nationals of Polish extraction and not for Polish nationals deported to Germany. In August, 1946, the Control Commission decided to withdraw permission for the formation of societies of this kind as it was felt that adequate provision had been made in the zone to meet the needs of former concentration camp inmates, and that the formation of small associations to deal with the problem would lead to confusion and duplication of effort. Since then the right of Association has become a matter to be dealt with by the German Land Government, subject to the general principle that there shall be full freedom of association for all lawful purposes. The Polish Association of Former Political Prisoners will, therefore, be free to resume 324W its lawful activities subject to compliance with any requirements imposed by Land legislation.