§ 48. Captain Bullockasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how it was that the Archduke Robert travelled recently, in French uniform, from the Tyrol to the British-occupied zone in Austria and addressed a political meeting without the British authorities being aware of his presence.
§ Mr. J. HyndI assume that the hon. Member is referring to the incident in August last when the Archduke Robert succeeded in crossing from the United States zone to the British zone in Austria under an assumed name, wearing the uniform of a French officer. He left 48 hours later by the same route. Inter zonal boundaries in Austria are controlled as strictly as available manpower permits. Naturally, however, there are attempts to evade the controls and the Archduke's uniform doubtless facilitated his illegal entry into the British zone.
§ Captain BullockDoes not the Minister consider it highly undesirable at the present moment that Hapsburgs in disguise should enter Austria for political purposes?
§ Mr. HyndAs I have indicated, the Archduke Robert left the zone by the same route as he entered it within 48 hours, and instructions were given to the military authorities that in the event of any similar escapade occurring again, immediate action should be taken against anyone who was infringing the arrangement.
§ Mr. WarbeyWill my hon. Friend make it clear that it is the policy of His Majesty's Government to uphold and support the law of the Austrian Republic forbidding the entry of claimants to the former Hapsburg throne, and will he make representations to the French Government urging them to adopt the same attitude?
§ Mr. HyndThat hardly arises from the Question, but I think I can assure the House that the policy of His Majesty's Government is to see the establishment of an independent Austrian Government, which will have charge of these matters, as soon as possible.