COMMONS RE-ASSEMBLES

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 September 1944, Page 5

COMMONS RE-ASSEMBLES

MR. CHURCHILL’S REPLIES — J

WAR CRIMINALS’ TREATMENT

RUGBY, Sept. 26.

Mr. Churchill was cheered when he entered the Commons r -at the first meeting after the recess. He will make a statement on the war and international situation on Thursday. Two days’ debate will follow. Mr. Churchill’s first act was to announce the appointment of Mr. Justice Asquith as chairman of a Royal Commission on equal pay for men and women. He also assured the House that full opportunity would be given for a debate on the demobilisation plan. Several questions were put to Mr. Churchill asking what action the Allies were taking to prevent the possible evasion of justice by German criminals escaping to neutral countries.

Mr. Churchill replied that the Government had resolved to do the utmost to prevent this. He noted a number of neutrals had already made satisfactory statements upon the subject adding: “It is not our intention to allow the escape of these men to be effected without exerting every resource that civilised Powers can contemplate.” CAPTAIN RAMSAY RELEASED PROTEST IN HOUSE (Rec. 10.10 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 26. Captain Ramsay, M.P., was released from Brixton Prison to-night. A small storm blew up in the Commons, earlier, when the Home Secretary (Mr Morrison) announced it had been decided to release Ramsay from detention. (Ramsay had been detained under Regulation 188 since April 23. 1940). Mr Morrison said: The success of the United Nations and the certainty that the forces of evil are doomed to complete overthrow has created a situation wherein I am justified in taking a formerly unjustifiable risk. The time has come when it-is legitimate to face the risk that Ramsay may be tempted again to engage in irresponsible mischievous activity. There will be no supervision of Ramsay after his release. I don’t propose to release en bloc all those who are at present detained on the ground of hostile origin or associations or on having been concerned in acts prejudicial to the safety of the Realm. The time has not come when that can be safely done, but a fresh review of these cases was undertaken and the release authorised of seventy of the 223 who were still detained on July 31.” Mr Gallacher said: This man is a rabid anti-Semitic, and unspeakable blackguard. (Cries of order and withdraw.) Mr Gallacher refused, whereupon he was ordered from the Chamber. Mr Pritt said: I wonder if Mr Morrison has been in consultation with Service Ministers to establish how many decent Englishmen have been unnecessarily brought to their death bv Ramsay’s activities.