§ 36. Sir W. Smithersasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the nature of the charge brought against Maria Marynowska, an employee of the British Embassy in Warsaw; and if he will publish as a White Paper the conclusions arrived at by the official of the British Embassy who was present as an observer at the trial.
Mr. McNeilMrs. Marynowska was charged, together with the other accused, with acting, in the period from the spring of 1946 to January, 1947, in a way which had as its object the overthrow of the Polish Government, and the specific accusations alleged are that Mrs. Marynowska arranged a meeting between underground leaders and members of His Majesty's Embassy, and also passed information from them to the Embassy. My right hon. Friend will bear in mind the suggestion made in the second part of the Question.
§ Sir W. SmithersWill not the right hon. Gentleman agree, in regard to this and other trials, whatever the verdict, that while the satellite countries of Soviet Russia are not in conformity with the British system of law, he should do all he can to uphold the rights of those accused in these trials?
Mr. McNeilThe Government are represented at the trial, and we will see that all legitimate protection to servants of the Government is afforded to this woman. I should, perhaps, say that no one expects a similarity of the law as between country and country, but what we are concerned about is to see that justice, according to the law of the country, is discharged.