§ 16. Mr. E. Fletcherasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will suggest to the West German Federal Government that, before the Bonn treaties are ratified, appropriate steps are taken to 108W amend the proposed basic law for Germany in order effectively to prevent Herr Alfred Krupp from being able, in future, to invest or engage in coal or iron and steel industries.
§ Mr. EdenI do not consider such action would be practicable at this late stage. The basic law is the fundamental constitutional law of the Federal Republic, which has been in force since September, 1949.