§ 10. Mr. Blackburnasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any application has now been received from M. Mikolajczyk for asylum in this country.
§ Mr. MayhewI have been informed that M. Mikolajczyk arrived in this country today and was given leave to land.
§ Mr. BlackburnIs my hon. Friend aware that this news will be received with the greatest relief by people in this country; has he any news of where M. Mikolajczyk arrived, where he came from, and whether his colleagues are with him?
§ Mr. MayhewI do not think it is for me to comment on the first part of the hon. Member's question. On the second part of his question, I can say that M. Mikolajczyk arrived at Mansion Airfield, but at the moment I am afraid there is no further news that I can give.
§ Mr. PiratinCan the Minister explain how it was that on Monday last a Question was put down on the Order Paper on this matter. That Question must obviously have been put down on the previous Friday. Yet the news that M. Mikolajczyk had left Poland was announced only on Saturday night. That Question was put down by the hon. and gallant Member for Ayr Burghs (Sir T. Moore). Can the Minister explain how that information was received before the announcement?
§ Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas MooreMay I say that I noticed the fate that happened to M. Petkov and, having regard to the trend of events in Poland, I immediately put down that Question.
§ Major BruceWill the Minister say whether any application was received?
§ Mr. MayhewI can only say that M. Mikolajczyk was given leave to land.