HC Deb 28 March 1923 vol 162 c466
3. Mr. MIDDLETON

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government has called the attention of the United States Government to the circumstance that Mrs. Marguerite Harrison, when arrested as an American spy in April, 1920, in Moscow, secured her release by becoming a Soviet spy and was rearrested for giving false information in that capacity; and whether His Majesty's Government has drawn the attention of the United States Government to Mrs. Stan Harding' sclaim for redress for the injuries caused her by Mrs. Harrison's false information?

Mr. McNEILL

The answer to both parts of the question is in the negative.

Mr. MIDDLETON

Has the hon. Gentleman reason to believe that the United States Government is protecting this lady, knowing that she was an informer and acting as their agent at the time she was arrested?

Mr. McNEILL

No, Sir. I have no information to that effect.

Major Sir A. SINCLAIR

Does the hon. Gentleman accept this allegation against a well known American journalist, Mrs. Marguerite Harrison; can he say if she was employed as a Soviet spy as suggested in the question; and if, in fact, she was so employed, will any claim for compensation be made against the United States Government.

Mr. McNEILL

I express no opinion one way or the other.