§ 52 and 53. Sir J. Fosterasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) whether Her Majesty's Government recognise the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics as the de jure sovereign or Government of the Soviet zone in Germany;
(2) whether Her Majesty's Government recognises the German Democratic Republic as a subordinate body set up by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics as the de jure Government of East Germany, to act on its behalf;
(3) whether Her Majesty's Government recognises the right of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics to set up the German Democratic Republic as a subordinate organisation acting on behalf of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
§ Mr. George ThomsonI apologise for the length of this reply but it deals with an important legal issue.
Her Majesty's Government recognise the State and Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics as de jure entitled to exercise governing authority in respect of their zone of occupation in Germany. They may establish subordinate organisations to act on their behalf, but this does not detract from their own responsibility for the conduct of the affairs of the zone. The East German authorities have been set up as a subordinate organisation of the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in the exercise of their governing authority; but this in no way involves recognition by Her Majesty's Government of those authorities as a government de jure or de facto.