§ 65. Mr. Nallyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that Professor Johan Smertenko, vice-president of the American League for a Free Palestine is openly financing terrorist organisations of Palestine; and whether it is intended to allow this U.S. citizen to remain in this country and carry out his stated intention of forming a branch of his organisation in the United Kingdom.
§ 67. Mr. O'Brienasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that Professor Johan J. Smertento, vice-president of the American League for a Free Palestine, on his own admission is in contact with leaders of terrorist groups in Palestine; that the American League for a Free Palestine financially supports illegal immigration into Palestine and underground resistance to the Palestine Government and that one of the reasons for his visit to Britain is to establish a British League for a free Palestine to collect funds for the same purposes; and what action he is prepared to take to curtail Professor Smertento's stay in this country.
§ Mr. OliverThis foreign visitor left this country on 13th December, and steps have been taken to exclude him for the future.
§ Mr. NallyWhile expressing my satisfaction with that reply, may I ask my hon. Friend whether any other steps have been taken to indicate the view of His Majesty's Government that this was a gross breach of traditional British hospitality and that it must not happen again?
§ Mr. OliverIn our view, the fact that steps have been taken to exclude this gentleman makes it clear that we do not regard him as a very desirable visitor.
§ Mr. PickthornI apologise, in case I have missed something, but has it been made clear that the allegations made by this visitor against the conduct of British soldiers are quite baseless? Has that been publicly made plain?
§ Mr. OliverThat is a question which I cannot answer.