Oral Answers to Questions — Prisoners of War – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 25 Chwefror 1947.
Mr Thomas Skeffington-Lodge
, Bedford
12:00,
25 Chwefror 1947
asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in those cases where there is proof that German civilians helped our own prisoners of war, the same rewards and privileges can be extended to them as in the case of Italians; and whether, in the interests of justice, he will arrange to adopt in Germany the same means of discovering those who assisted the allied cause as is operated in Italy.
Mr Frederick Bellenger
, Bassetlaw
I am not prepared to extend to Germany, where there were very few active helpers, the procedure adopted in Italy, where there were many. In those cases that have come to light in Germany, preferential treatment has been given where justified.
Mr Thomas Skeffington-Lodge
, Bedford
I am afraid I did not hear the Secretary of State's reply. May I ask him whether he Swill do all he can to iron out the discrimination between Italian civilians and German civilians, where they have adopted the same attitude towards British prisoners of war?
Mr Frederick Bellenger
, Bassetlaw
Yes, Sir; but I am bound to say that there were thousands of Italians who helped our men actively in Italy, but very few Germans who helped our men in Germany.
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.