§ 3. Mr. Wilkesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the Greek Government has placed in Salonika Gaol, under sentence of death, a boy of 15 years of age; that members of the U.N.O. Commission recently intervened and secured the postponement of his execution; and whether the British Ambassador in Athens will be asked to make representations to the Greek Government regarding this case.
§ Mr. MayhewI am informed that the execution of this youth, who is 16, and thus under Greek law fully responsible for all offences under the penal code, was postponed by the Greek authorities on the plea of youth before the intervention of the United Nations Commission. His case is under review and, in these circumstances, I do not consider that representations by His Majesty's Ambassador are called for at this stage.
§ Mr. WilkesIn view of the fact that it is decisions and acts of harshness, such as this sentence exemplifies, which have led to great political bitterness in Greece, is not this a proper case on which His Majesty's Government's representative in Greece should make representations which, I think, all Members of this House would like him to make?
§ Mr. MayhewAs, in the normal course of justice, this case is under review, there is no case for intervention at this stage. On the other hand, there may be a case for reconsidering the decision later.