HC Deb 19 December 1952 vol 509 cc286-7W
Mr. Janner

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, if he is aware that Great Britain has declined to join France in protesting against recent nationalistic utterances in the Federal Republic of Germany and that France, in consequence, protested unilaterally; and why Her Majesty's Government have felt unable to join the French Government in its action against neo-Nazism and militarism.

Mr. Nutting

This question arose after the speech made by General Ramcke on the 26th October. As my right hon. Friend explained in answer to a Question on 30th October, he did not instruct the United Kingdom High Commissioner to intervene because he did not consider that General Ramcke's remarks constituted a real threat to the security of our forces in Germany, and also because the German Federal Government and German public opinion had strongly condemned them.

On 31st October the French Government raised with Her Majesty's Government the question of joint action by the Allied High Commission. In reply the French Embassy were informed of my right hon. Friend's views as stated on the previous day in the House. The question was however also considered in the Allied High Commission. Meanwhile, as M. Maurice Schumann has already stated in Paris, the French High Commissioner made a unilateral démarche. Further action by Her Majesty's Government was thought to be unnecessary, more especially as the German Federal Government were aware of our views from my right hon. Friend's statement on 30th October.