§ 12. Sir Percy Harrisasked the Prime Minister whether Miss Church and Mr. John Lennox, who are under judicial arrest in Vienna, have been allowed yet to receive visits from consular officers; if not, whether he will make a strong protest through the proper channels against the refusal to allow these persons to have legal assistance; and whether he can say how long they have been under arrest without trial?
§ Mr. ButlerThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The date of Miss Church's arrest is given as 21st March and that of Mr. Lennox as 25th March. There are no legal or treaty grounds for insisting that prisoners arrested on suspicion in Germany shall be allowed legal assistance before a charge has been formulated against them. But I can give a categorical assurance that no effort has been or will be spared to move the German authorities to expedite the investigation in order that the prisoners may be brought before a court and allowed normal facilities at the earliest possible moment. The Acting Consul-General at Vienna reported last Saturday that the examining magistrate expects to complete his investigations during the course of this week.
§ Sir P. HarrisCan the right hon. Gentleman give any explanation of the very 999 prolonged delay, now going into several months, before these people have the advantage of having the case put against them and brought before the court?
§ Mr. ButlerNo, Sir, but this long delay is regretted and has already been the subject of representations by His Majesty's Government.
§ Lieut.-Commander FletcherIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the German authorities gave a promise as long ago as 26th May that Mr. Lennox should be allowed to write to his wife, that that promise has not been kept, and that Mr. Lennox has not been allowed to write since the time of his arrest.
§ Mr. ButlerMy information is that the prisoners are allowed to write one letter weekly to their relatives, but I will investigate the point raised by the hon. and gallant Member.