Oral Answers to Questions — Displaced Persons Camp, Italy (Murders)

– in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 11 Chwefror 1947.

Danfonwch hysbysiad imi am ddadleuon fel hyn

Photo of Mr Konni Zilliacus Mr Konni Zilliacus , Gateshead 12:00, 11 Chwefror 1947

asked the Secretary of State for War in what circumstances the Yugoslav Consul-General in Naples and the secretary of the Yugoslav military mission in Rome were beaten to death by Chetniks when visiting the D.P. camp at Poggio Reale, near Naples; for what reasons the British military authorities failed to intervene effectively to avert this double murder, in spite of being aware of the danger; and what steps have been taken to apprehend and try those responsible.

Photo of Mr Frederick Bellenger Mr Frederick Bellenger , Bassetlaw

I am awaiting the arrival of the proceedings of a court of inquiry. As soon as I have seen and considered these I will write to my hon. Friend.

Photo of Mr Konni Zilliacus Mr Konni Zilliacus , Gateshead

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the overwhelming Majority of the inmates of this camp are Quisling troops who fought on the side of Germany against the Allies; that the Yugoslav Camp Commander, General Miodrag Damjanovich, is a wanted war criminal; and that the failure to deliver up this war criminal, the failure to treat these men as prisoners of war, their employment as guards and, finally, the failure to maintain order and prevent this lynching, has had a very serious effect on Anglo-Yugoslav relations?

Photo of Professor Douglas Savory Professor Douglas Savory , Queen's University of Belfast

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that these gentlemen were informed three times over that their presence was not desired? And is it not understood that these Chetniks were naturally horrified at the thought of these men coming from Marshal Tito in view of their recollection of the judicial murder of General Mihailovich?

Photo of Mr Douglas Clifton Brown Mr Douglas Clifton Brown , Hexham

There was an inquiry into it, but hon. Gentlemen seem to be holding it here.

Secretary of State

Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.

majority

The term "majority" is used in two ways in Parliament. Firstly a Government cannot operate effectively unless it can command a majority in the House of Commons - a majority means winning more than 50% of the votes in a division. Should a Government fail to hold the confidence of the House, it has to hold a General Election. Secondly the term can also be used in an election, where it refers to the margin which the candidate with the most votes has over the candidate coming second. To win a seat a candidate need only have a majority of 1.