§ 21. Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas Mooreasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether in view of the fate of the patriot Petkov in Bulgaria, and the inability of His Majesty's Government to prevent this judicial murder, he will offer sanctuary to M. Mikolajczyk, the Peasant Party leader in Poland who is in danger of a similar fate.
§ Mr. Leslie HaleOn a point of Order, Mr. Speaker. In regard to this question, without desiring to express any view on this matter, about which I know nothing, may I ask for your guidance as to why it was ruled impossible for Members on this side of the House to ask questions about Archbishop Stepinac, and, secondly, why it is permissible to put on the Order Paper the expression, "judicial murder," which prejudges the issue and attacks a friendly Power? May I ask whether this Question is in Order?
§ Mr. SpeakerThat is such a complicated point of Order that I could not possibly answer it at short notice. If I had had notice of it I could have given a reply, but the Question, having passed the Table, is, I am certain, in Order.
§ Mr. MayhewHis Majesty's Government would certainly adhere in the case of M. Mikolajczyk to the traditional British policy of granting asylum in this country to political refugees.
§ Sir T. MooreIn view of the fact that we were largely responsible for sending this great patriot back to Poland, will the Government take every step to facilitate his escape—if escape is possible—and his journey to this country?
§ Mr. MayhewI cannot go beyond what I have said.
§ Mrs. Leah ManningCan my hon. Friend say why he agrees with the assumption that M. Mikolajczyk is in danger of arrest and judicial murder at the hands of the Polish Government?
§ Mr. MayhewI have not in the least admitted all those implications.
§ Professor SavoryWill the hon. Gentleman be good enough to give the House the earliest possible information about the safety of M. Mikolajczyk?
§ Mr. MayhewI have no information to give, but I have no doubt that if a Question is put later we will see that a reply is given.
§ Major BruceWill my hon. Friend make it clear that he does not concede the inference contained in the last part of the original Question, and will he also bear in mind that before the war no representations were received from members of the Anglo-German Fellowship with regard to judicial murders in Germany?
Vice-Admiral TaylorIs not the Under-Secretary aware that every Pole who is opposing the Communist Government in Poland is in danger?
§ Mr. MayhewAll this is getting very wide of the original Question.