HC Deb 19 October 1949 vol 468 c27W
32. Mr. Renton

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that certain university old students' associations, which were dissolved by the Nazi Government in 1935, have recently been forbidden by the Control Commission for Germany to re-form; what were the reasons for the prohibition; and whether he will make a statement as to the principles which guided the Control Commission in allowing some old students' associations to re-form while prohibiting others from doing so.

Mr. Bevin

No university old students' association have been authorised by the British authorities to re-form in the British zone of Germany. These associations have always been nationalistic in character. Those dissolved by the Nazi Government were penalised because they refused to be incorporated in the NaziStudenten Bund for social or religious reasons rather than because they opposed the political aims of that Government. The conditions and procedure for the re-formation of desirable associations are now under discussion between the staff of the High Commissioner and the German Land Education Ministries and University rektors.