§ Mr. WHITEHOUSEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he could give any information as to the imprisonment at Warsaw of a British subject who has been resident there as a teacher of music; whether she has been set at liberty; and what were the alleged reasons for her imprisonment?
The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. McKinnon Wood)His Majesty's Consul at Warsaw, who reported the arrest, applied to the Chief of the Gendarmerie for permission to visit Miss Malecka in prison, but this was refused. He has, however, been allowed to write to her in English, saying that her case is being investigated. Miss Malecka is accused of conspiring against the Russian Government; she is stated to be a member of the Polish Socialist party, and has not concealed this fact since her arrest. Shortly after entering Russia, she expressed herself very strongly on political matters, and received a serious warning from the Consul. According to the Consul's information she will be conducted across the frontier after the matter has been investigated, and forbidden to reenter the country. His Majesty's Ambassador at St. Petersburg has addressed a note to the Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs, asking that the authorities may withdraw their refusal to permit the Consul to visit Miss Malecka, and expressing the hope that the trial may be expedited. Miss Malecka is in contemplation of English law a British subject by virtue of her birth in this country, but it is not at present clear that she is not also by origin a Russian subject in contemplation of Russian law. Further inquiries are being made on this latter point.
§ Mr. WHITEHOUSEMay I ask whether the Government, in view of the grave anxiety and distress felt by this lady's friends, will endeavour to secure permission for them to visit her, and whether they will also take steps to see the lady herself is treated in a way I befitting her sex and position?
Mr. McKINNON WOODI think His Majesty's Minister may be trusted to do all that is possible in the circumstances.
§ Major ANSTRUTHER-GRAYWill this lady be represented by counsel at her trial?