§ Mr. Platts-Millsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps have been taken to restore to the Polish 3W Government State property that has been alienated contrary to the provisions of the Potsdam Agreement.
Mr. McNeilSo far as I am aware no Polish State property has been alienated contrary to the provisions of the Potsdam Agreement except for eleven packing cases containing part of the archives of certain departments of the London Polish Government. These, I am satisfied after careful examination, were in error sent for salvage in 1947. An apology and full explanations were sent to the Polish Embassy when their disappearance came to light last year. If any other property is alleged to have been wrongly alienated the normal legal remedies are available to the Polish Government as provided in the Potsdam Agreement.
§ Mr. Platts-Millsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many applications have been received from the Polish Government, in respect of what property, and with what result, for the return of assets in Great Britain alleged to be Polish State property alienated contrary to the provisions of the Potsdam Agreement.
Mr. McNeilThe disposal of Polish assets which came into the possession of His Majesty's Government as the result of the withdrawal of recognition of the London Polish Government is governed by the Anglo-Polish Financial Agreement of 24th June, 1946. The Polish Government have been currently informed of all the steps that have been taken in this matter and consideration has been given to all the representations which they have made. I regret that it is impossible to set out the details of all the correspondence within the framework of a Parliamentary reply.