5. Mr. EDMUND HARVEYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Portuguese Government have yet formulated the charges upon which the Rev. J. S. Bowskill was arrested; and whether Mr. Bowskill's two native assistants are still imprisoned upon the same charge, without having undergone any kind of trial?
§ Sir E. GREYAs regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer returned to the hon. Member for Chelsea on Tuesday. As I have already stated, we have heard that Mr. Bowskill's native assistants were arrested, but we have no further information on the subject.
§ Sir J. D. REESCan the right hon. Gentleman arrange to make public in some way the information as he receives it in view of the considerable anxiety there is amongst this gentleman's many friends in the Midlands regarding his fate?
§ Sir E. GREYI think almost every, week I have made public the information we have had. The information I gave so recently as last Tuesday was that Mr. Bowskill is not now under any restraint, and it is not certain whether any charge will be brought against him.
Mr. EDMUND HARVEYCould not some influence be used on behalf of the native assistants, because the charge is the same, and they are suffering for it, although it has not been formulated?
§ Sir E. GREYThe native assistants are Portuguese and not British subjects, and therefore we cannot intervene 522 officially on their behalf. The utmost I can say is that if Mr. Bowskill's native assistants were subjected to harsh and unfair treatment, when we get the whole facts of the case with regard to Mr. Bowskill's treatment before us it would, of course, influence our minds as to Mr. Bowskill's treatment.
§ Major ANSTRUTHER-GRAYWhen does the right hon. Gentleman expect to get the whole of the facts in this long drawn out case?
§ Sir E GREYI explained on Tuesday the communication with this district is very uncertain. I am anxious to get full reports as soon as I can.