HC Deb 15 November 1937 vol 329 cc9-10
11. Mr. Craven-Ellis

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make representations to the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics for the release from Soviet nationality and permission to leave the country of a lady of the name of Madame Blagoveshchenskaya, in order to legalise under British law her Russian marriage with Mr. H. Langton Wood and so enable her to become a British subject?

Viscount Cranborne

His Majesty's Embassy at Moscow were instructed on 2nd July last to make unofficial representations in support of this lady's application for release from Soviet citizenship and permission to leave the Soviet Union, in view of her prospective marriage to Mr. Langton Wood; and in August last they had grounds for thinking that the application would be favourably considered. Since then, however, the lady has been arrested on what appears to be a criminal charge in Soviet law; and it is not possible to take further action on her behalf pending the disposal of this charge.

Mr. Craven-Ellis

Has my Noble Friend or the Ambassador in Moscow made inquiries as to what is the criminal charge against the lady in question, and, if not, will he do so?

Mr. T. Williams

Have His Majesty's Government anything to do with any charge made against a Soviet subject?

Mr. Craven-Ellis

The lady is a British subject.

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