HC Deb 19 June 1947 vol 438 cc2204-5
25. Mr. Gammans

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times cases of burglary or housebreaking into the Soviet Embassy or other properties in London belonging to the Soviet Embassy have been reported; and what answer he has made to the protest received from the Soviet Ambassador that the Metropolitan Police have not taken sufficient trouble to prevent such offences and to arrest the offenders.

Mr. Ede

The only such reports are statements recently made by the Soviet Embassy that two flats, occupied respectively by a, First Secretary of the Embassy and by a member of the Soviet Naval Attaché's staff, had been broken into and property stolen, and that the Soviet Embassy School at Hampstead had been broken into. Only one of these incidents had been reported to the police at the time of its occurrence. As regards the second part of the Question, no such protest has been received.

Mr. Gammans

Do I assume from that that the reports which have appeared in the Russian Press, including "Pravda," that there have been seven burglaries are incorrect, and will the Minister say if any special request has been made by the Soviet Embassy in London for the special protection of their premises?

Mr. Ede

With regard to the first part of the supplementary question, only three burglaries alleged to have occurred on premises occupied by Soviet officials or used for their purposes have been reported to my Department. It is alleged that a burglary occurred at one place on 23rd May, but that was not notified to the Police until 9th June. It is quite clear that any effort to trace a burglary which occurred on 23rd May is very difficult if it is not reported until 9th June. I do not want to go into the other two cases, but that is one of the difficulties that confront us in dealing with this matter.

Mr. Gammans

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the second part of my question? Has any special application been made by the Soviet Embassy in London for the extra protection of their premises?

Mr. Ede

Not that I am aware of, but if the hon. Gentleman will put that question down, I will see that he has an answer.

Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas Moore

Can the right hon. Gentleman say if it is correct that certain volumes of a publication called "Keep to the Left" were stolen?

Mr. Ede

If they were, they will be replaced by Hatchard's.