§ Mr. MORRELLI desire to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House to call attention to a definite matter of urgent public importance—that is, the imprisonment for more than fifteen weeks in a gaol at Warsaw of Miss Malecka, a British subject, and the failure of His Majesty's Government to take effective steps to obtain from the Russian Government any particulars of the charge against her, or, failing that, an order for her release.
§ Mr. SPEAKERI have already pointed out to the hon. Member that this Motion is premature. After the answer which was given yesterday by the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, I am rather surprised that he should have raised the matter again. The Under-Secretary then stated that our Ambassador at St. Petersburg had been instructed to take action with the Russian Government, and to ask for particulars of the charge against this lady, and, failing to receive them, to ask for an order from the Government for her release. These are the very things to which 1286 the hon. Gentleman desires to call attention. Surely he must wait and see whether the Foreign Office Vote is taken. If so, that will afford a reasonable and suitable opportunity for him to raise the question. On the other hand, if the Foreign Office Vote is not taken, then it will still be open to him to raise the question.
§ Mr. MORRELLMay I respectfully point out that the Prime Minister stated expressly, in answer to me, that he could give no assurance that the Foreign Office Vote would be taken this Session. For fifteen weeks this lady's friends have been waiting to obtain particulars of the charge against her in order to apply for bail; failing that, to obtain her release. Through the Ambassador several requests, as I understand, have already been made for particulars of the charge. I asked this question more than a week ago. The lady's health is suffering. I respectfully submit to you that under all these circumstances the case has now become urgent.
§ Mr. SPEAKERI must say that I think it would be a very false step if the House were to discuss this matter whilst the Government had instructed its Ambassador to make application to the Russian Government. Pending a reply from the Russian Government, I could not conceive anything more discourteous to that Government than for this House to discuss the question.
§ Mr. WEDGWOODMay I, on a point of Order, ask whether it is not certainly a matter of urgent public importance that a British subject—and a woman too—should be kept in a Russian prison without any charge being formulated against her?
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt is no good going back over the old ground. The Secretary of State has instructed our Ambassador at St. Petersburg in the sense I have indicated.
§ Mr. MORRELLHow long ago?
§ Mr. SPEAKERYesterday.
§ Mr. MORRELLNo.
§ Mr. SPEAKERAn answer was given yesterday! Surely we must wait four and twenty hours for a reply? It is no good going over the ground again.
§ Mr. MORRELL rose—
§ Mr. SPEAKERI have decided the point.