§ 3. Colonel DAYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the imprisonment, in the citadel at Damascus, of an Englishman, John Harvey, on a charge of having deserted from the French Legion; and whether any representations have been made to the French authorities with a view to the interests of this man being safeguarded?
§ Mr. A. M. SAMUEL (Secretary, Overseas Trade Department)I have received no official information regarding the matter, but His Majesty's Consul at Damascus has been asked for a report.
§ Colonel DAYIs the hon. Gentleman aware that an American legionnaire by name of Gilbert Clare, who was charged with the same offence as Harvey, was sentenced to death, but through the intervention of M. Briand the sentence has been postponed and a new trial ordered; and will the hon. Gentleman ask our representative there to look after the interests of our own subject?
§ Mr. SAMUELIf the hon. and gallant Gentleman will read the answer he will see that I have ventured to say that His Majesty's Consul has been asked for a report, and I think the Consul will look after the case.
§ Colonel DAYIn view of the fact that the American legionnaire was sentenced to death, and our subject may be in the same position, will the hon. Gentleman ask our representative there to look after the interests of this man?
§ Mr. SAMUELThose instructions have undoubtedly been given to His Majesty's Consul. In any case we can rely upon 351 the Consul taking every reasonable precaution to see that the man's interests are looked after.
§ Colonel DAYIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the answer he gave me just now said that a Report had been asked for? Will instructions be given that this British subject shall have proper representations made in his interests?
§ Mr. SAMUELIf they have not already been given; but I am under the impression they have already been given.