§ 5. Mr. LANSBURYasked the Home Secretary on what date the police authorities discovered that Anton Miller was one of the leaders of the Russian spy organisation, in the very closest touch with the actual leader of it; and will he explain to the House for what period of time after the discovery this leader of Russian spies was allowed to remain in this country without interference from the police?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI cannot usefully add anything to the answer given on the 30th May.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman why this alleged spy was not arrested and proceeded against?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThe hon. and gallant Gentleman must know that in the history of our country it has not always been found desirable either to arrest spies or proceed against them at any particular moment.
§ Mr. LANSBURYIs it not a fact that this man has been in the country for six years, and is not the House entitled to know when it was discovered that he was so dangerous a person and the centre of conspiracy of the spy operations in this country; and seeing that this man was registered as an alien and was here with the right hon. Gentleman's permission, when he informed the House that he had discovered a human document was it not a document that he knew thoroughly well was here and had been here for many years?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI knew that this man had been here, but I did not know that I should find this particular man, of whose activities I was aware, acting as a cipher clerk in Arcos.
§ Mr. LANSBURYIf the Home Secretary was aware, as he has stated he was aware, that this man was at the centre of the then spy conspiracy in this country, why was he permitted to remain here for six years?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI am not prepared to say why spies are permitted to remain in this country. I take the 524 responsibility. I knew they were here. It is sometimes exceedingly useful that spies who are known to be in this country should be allowed to remain here so that we may be able to get information during the time they are here with regard to other people.
§ Mr. LANSBURYrose—
Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKERI will allow the hon. Member one more supplementary question. Obviously this is a matter for debate.
§ Mr. LANSBURYObviously it is better to raise it now while it is fresh in the public mind. What I want to ask the Home Secretary is why the chief of the spy organisation, as the right hon. Gentleman described this man, was allowed to remain in this country for six years?
§ Mr. LANSBURYThe right hon. Gentleman has not answered it.
Mr. BECKETTOn a point of Order. May I point out that there was practically no chance of putting supplementary questions.