HC Deb 30 May 1911 vol 26 cc881-2
Major ANSTRUTHER-GRAY

asked whether any reply has yet been received by the British ambassador at St. Petersburg from the Russian Government with regard to his request that Miss Maleka may be visited by the British consul; whether this lady, who was provided with a British passport, and whose father was a naturalised British subject, has recently been moved from one Russian prison to another; whether she has been brought up for trial; whether she was represented by counsel at her trial; and whether, seeing that she is a British subject he will press for her release?

Sir E. GREY

His Majesty's Ambassador at St. Petersburg has been told that the consul at Warsaw will be allowed to visit Miss Maleka officially if she is proved to be a British subject, and privately if she is proved to be a Russian subject. I have no information to show that Miss Maleka has been moved from one prison to another; she is detained in the 10th Pavilion of the Warsaw fortress. She has not yet been brought up for trial. His Majesty's Ambassador has urged the Russian authorities to hasten the proceedings. Miss Maleka, has been charged with conspiring against the Russian Government, and it would obviously be impossible to press for her release before the charge has been investigated.

Major ANSTRUTHER-GRAY

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether she is a British subject or not?

Sir E. GREY

That is the question that has been raised and which is now being investigated.

Major ANSTRUTHER-GRAY

Has it not been investigated already?

Sir E. GREY

It is possible that people may be British subjects in this country and Russian subjects in another country.

Major ANSTRUTHER-GRAY

But is not the daughter shown to be a British subject in this case?

Sir E. GREY

That is what makes the question so complicated. If a Russian comes to this country and resides here and becomes a British subject it is still possible under international law that she would still be a Russian subject in Russia. The father of this person was a Russian, although he became a naturalised British subject. It does not follow he loses his Russian nationality in Russia.

Major ANSTRUTHER-GRAY

Will the right hon. Gentleman do his best?

Sir E. GREY

Certainly, the Embassy is doing all that can be done to get the question of nationality decided.

Mr. WEDGWOOD

I suppose it will be an open trial and not a secret one, which may reseult in this woman being deported to Siberia?

Sir E. GREY

I cannot say what the machinery will be. The investigation is taking place and the British Embassy are doing all they can to hasten it. If she proves to be a British subject we shall expect to be informed when the trial takes place and what the nature of the evidence is.