§ MR. YOXALL (Nottingham, W.)To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether he can take any action in the case of Nicholas Tchayskovsky, a distinguished man of science of Russian birth (but resident in this country for more than twenty years, and several of whose family are British subjects), confined since 24th November, 1907, in the fortress of St. Peter and St. Paul, at St. Petersburg, without charge preferred against him; whether his attention has been drawn to a memorial speaking of the position in the esteem of all who knew him, of whatever shade of politics or creed, which Mr. Tchayskovsky has won for himself during the thirty years residence in England and the United States; whether he is aware that a petition of similar weight has been adopted in the United States, and that the eminent medical men, Professors Bechtereff and Volkhoff, report that Mr. Tchayskovsky's life is endangered by his internment, he being of an advanced age and suffering from heart disease; and whether, under the circumstances, anything can be done by the Foreign Office on behalf of British subjects who are relatives of this distinguished man to secure that he may be released on bail while awaiting trial.
1027 (Answered by Secretary Sir Edward Grey.) I understand that Mr. Tchayskovsky is charged with being implicated in revolutionary proceedings. He is not a British subject, and there is, therefore, no ground on which diplomatic action can be taken by His Majesty's Government.