HC Deb 23 July 1951 vol 491 cc9-10W
49. Mr. Frederick Elwyn Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what were the circumstances which led to the requisitioning of two tanker vessels under construction in Sunderland for Polish owners.

Mr. Younger

These two vessels were requisitioned by His Majesty's Government for defence purposes under the authority granted by the Defence Regulations and enactments.

55. Mr. Driberg

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations he has received from the Polish Government concerning the requisitioning by the Admiralty of two tankers built in a British shipyard to the order of the Polish Mercantile Marine, paid for in accordance with the contract concluded on 14th May, 1948, and recently launched; and what reply he has returned thereto, with particular reference to the violation of Article 6 of the Anglo-Polish Trade Agreement of 14th January, 1949, involved in this breach of contract.

Mr. Younger

When the Polish Ambassador was informed on 14th July of the decision to requisition the tankers, he said that he would report to his Government, which he felt sure would take a very serious view of this action. No formal communiqué has since been received from the Polish Government.

91. Mr. Driberg

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty under what Defence Regulations two tankers, recently built in Britain for the Polish Mercantile Marine, were requisitioned by his Department in violation of Article 6 of the Anglo-Polish Trade Agreement of 14th January, 1949; for what reasons this action was taken and by what authority a British naval officer boarded one of these vessels three days before she was due to sail for Poland and ordered her Polish captain and crew ashore.

Mr. W. J. Edwards

The two tankers were requisitioned under paragraph (1) of Regulation 53 of the Defence (General) Regulations, 1939. They were requisitioned because they were required for defence purposes. The last part of the question presumably refers to the action taken by the Admiralty in the exercise of these powers to obtain possession of one of the ships. About six Polish officers and one civilian were on board at the time, and they all left voluntarily when invited to do so.