§ 1. Mr. CLARRYasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give any information regarding Clifford Simmonds, of 69, Shaftesbury Street, Newport (Mon.), and other shipmates who went ashore at a Russian Baltic port from steamship "Clyne Rock," on 8th October, 1931, and who did not return to their ship, and have not been heard of since that time; and if his attention has been drawn to the possibility of these and other British subjects being detained in prison or conscript slave timber camps in the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Dr. Burgin)On the 20th October, 1931, the Board of Trade received from His Majesty's Consul-General at Helsingfors, a report that on the night of the 9th October, three members of the crew of the steamship "Clyne Rock" had disappeared. The men were Edward Wilkinson, aged 21, sailor; Albert Hickman, aged 19, sailor; and Clifford Simmonds, aged 18, messroom boy. The vessel was lying moored to the shore in an inlet at Vilajoki, Finland, to load pit props. The three men left the vessel after work for a trip in a boat and did not return. A thorough search, made on the 10th and 11th October with the help of the local police, only resulted in the finding of two of the boat's oars floating outside the bay. On the ship's return to Cardiff, the master and members of the crew gave evidence on oath but could throw no further light on the occurrence. No news of any of the men has since been received by the Board of Trade, but if any further information is forthcoming my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs will make all possible inquiries.
§ Mr. CLARRYCan the hon. Gentleman say whether there is any truth in the statement in the last part of my question, as to these men having been seen in any part of Russia?
§ Dr. BURGINThere is nothing at all to connect this matter with Russia in any way.