– in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 17 April 1947.
Mr Denis Pritt
, Hammersmith North
12:00,
17 April 1947
ased the Secretary of State for War how many Polish recalcitrants it is proposed to send to Germany; when, and over what period, they will be sent and in what areas; with what passports or other documents they will be equipped; and whether he has the assent of the authorities of the other zones in Germany to the proposed action.
Mr John Freeman
, Watford
How many will be sent and how long they will continue to be sent depends mainly on the Poles themselves. They are sent to the British zone. On leaving this country they are in possession of Polish military documents and on arrival in Germany are supplied with a foreigner's identity card and a demobilisation certificate. The authorities of the other zones have not been consulted in the matter because only the British zone is involved.
Mr Denis Pritt
, Hammersmith North
Can the Minister give an approximate figure of those likely to go, or, at any rate, a figure of those already on the way?
Mr John Freeman
, Watford
In reply to the first part of that question, obviously not, because it depends on the Poles themselves. With regard to the number who have already gone, I cannot give a precise figure without notice, but it is a very small number—I believe between 100 and 200.
Mr Quintin Hogg
, Oxford
Why is it that the Minister accepts the description of those Poles who refuse to "kick against the pricks" as recalcitrants—a somewhat offensive description?
Mr John Freeman
, Watford
One reason is because it happens to be my own description of them.
Mr Thomas Skeffington-Lodge
, Bedford
Will the Minister bear in mind that it is highly undesirable to dump this type of Pole in a country where they have greater opportunity for mischief than almost anywhere else?
Mr Anthony Eden
, Warwick and Leamington
Will the Minister consider revising his description, because the Chancellor of the exchequer himself has paid a very eloquent tribute to these Poles?
Mr John Freeman
, Watford
There is no intention to be offensive to these Poles, and nothing offensive is meant in the description. They are Poles who have refused to fall into either of the categories we have offered to them, and if the right hon. Gentleman will look in the Oxford Dictionary, he will find that "recalcitrant" is not an inapt description.
Mr Denis Pritt
, Hammersmith North
Will the Minister agree that I used the word "recalcitrant" without any desire to be offensive, and because he used it, and it is a sensible word?
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