§ 4. Lieut.-Commander Fletcherasked the Prime Minister whether he has any information concerning the arrests of Miss 1890 Church, Miss Abery, Mr. Lennox, Mr. and Mrs. Whitehead and Mr. Allen in Vienna and Graz?
§ Mr. ButlerYes, Sir, but as the details are rather long, I will, with the hon. and gallant Gentleman's permission circulate them in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Lieut.-Commander FletcherHave these arrests been made in retaliation for the expulsion of certain German subjects from this country?
§ Mr. ButlerIf the hon. and gallant Member refers to the statement I am circulating, he will see that these persons are at present being detained. We have not yet had a clear account of the charges; therefore, I could not give a clear answer about retaliation.
§ Following are the details:
§ His Majesty's Consul-General at Vienna has reported that Miss Church was arrested because the authorities suspected her of having contravened the currency regulations and of having engaged in political activities to which they took exception. Pending the result of the investigation now being made, the Consul-General is following the case. Mrs. Margaretha Abery, Viennese by birth, was formerly the wife of a British subject. She is reported to be under arrest on a charge of contravening the currency regulations. His Majesty's Consul-General at Vienna is in communication with her, and with her relatives resident there, regarding her defence, and meantime an application has been made for her release on bail. Mr. John Robert Lennox is also reported to be under arrest on a charge of contravening the currency regulations, but other charges of a political nature may be brought against him. His Majesty's Consul-General at Vienna is in communication with his family.
§ To the information which I gave on 15th May to the hon. Member for Leyton, West (Mr. Sorensen) about Mr. Whitehead and Mr. Allen, I am now able to add that, according to a report received from His Majesty's Consul-General at Vienna, these gentlemen will be released early this week, possibly to-day. Mrs. Whitehead did not accompany her husband and the report that she also was under arrest is incorrect.
§ His Majesty's Consul-General has received assurances that the persons under 1891 arrest are being treated with every consideration, that they possess and can use private funds, and that they may send and receive letters to their relatives subject to censorship. He has received a further assurance that everything possible is being done to accelerate the investigations into these cases, and he received on 20th May a promise that the prisoners would be charged before a court with the least possibly delay, probably within 14 days' time.