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Mr. Sumberg: Is my hon. Friend aware of the Jewish saying, "He who saves one life, saves the whole world"?
On the basis of that, Raoul Wallenberg saved many, many worlds. Would it not be right for our country, which did so much to fight the second world war and to secure the freedom and safety of those Jews who remained, to make the gesture of conferring citizenship?
Mr. Davis: My right hon. Friend the former Foreign Secretary and I looked at that possibility closely. In the time available I cannot go through all the problems involved, but we established that they were insuperable. Her Majesty's Government have been keen, however, to help with other possibilities for honouring Wallenberg.
My hon. Friend the Member for Basildon outlined the arrangements behind the organisation of an appeal to erect a memorial to Wallenberg in Great Cumberland place. The cost of the project and its upkeep in perpetuity will be approximately £100,000. I understand that the hope is to have the memorial unveiled and dedicated within a year and that the organisers are hoping to trace survivors among the Wallenberg 100,000 to invite to the unveiling. I have seen the plans for the memorial. It will be an impressive tribute.
I wish the appeal every success. I must tell my hon. Friend that I have little influence with the Arts Council, but Her Majesty's Government are to donate £15,000 to the appeal. I look forward to the day when the memorial is completed and graces London, a worthy symbol of the British people's admiration for a very, very great man.
Question put and agreed to.
Adjourned accordingly at fifteen minutes to Eleven o'clock.
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