HC Deb 03 March 1952 vol 497 c4W
55. Major Beamish

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the action recently taken by the Australian Government in distributing the proceeds of seized Japanese assets among all Australian ex-prisoners of war; and whether he will take early steps to do the same for British ex-prisoners of the Japanese

Mr. Nutting

I have seen reports in the Press that the Government of Australia have announced only their intention to divide the proceeds of Japanese assets in Australia equally amongst all Australian ex-prisoners of war and civilian ex-internees of the Japanese.

For the reasons stated in the reply given on 25th July last by the right hon. Member for Lewisham, South (Mr. H. Morrison) the previous Government considered that the proceeds of Japanese assets in the United Kingdom should, when they became available, be distributed to benevolent organisations rather than to individuals. This arrangement has been endorsed by Her Majesty's Government.