HC Deb 29 May 1952 vol 501 cc168-9W
11. Mr. Hale

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason persons of Polish nationality, resident in this country, are being informed that applications for naturalisation must be postponed in those cases where there was any forced service in the German Forces.

12. Mr. Hale

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why Mr. H. Wolnica, whose father was taken to the concentration camp at Auschwitz, whose mother was taken to forced labour in the Upper Silesian coal mines, and who was himself compelled to serve for a period of one month only in the German Forces before he was able to escape and serve in the French Maquis, is being told that, because of this service, his application for naturalisation cannot be considered at present.

Sir D. Maxwell Fyfe

There are in this country many thousands of Poles who, serving under their own flag, did good service in Italy and elsewhere in the allied cause. Many of these are not yet eligible by residence to apply for naturalisation, and until a reasonable proportion of them have had a chance to do so I do not think it would be right to consider applications by Poles who assisted the enemy, whether willingly or otherwise. This was explained in a letter dated 12th May, 1952, from the Joint Under-Secretary of State to the hon. Gentleman about the case of Mr. Wolnica. It would be difficult, if not impossible, from the information which I receive about such cases to distinguish between those who served the enemy willingly and those who served under compulsion.