HC Deb 23 February 1948 vol 447 cc1581-2
9. Professor Savory

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that all copies of the issue of Saturday, 7th February, 1948, of the British-sponsored newspaper "Weltpresse" have been confiscated by the Russians in their zone and in the Soviet sector in Vienna; and whether he has made any protest to the Russian representative on the Allied Commission of Control; and whether any numbers of the Russian-sponsored paper have ever been confiscated in the British zone and in the British sector of Vienna.

Mr. McNeil

My right hon. Friend is informed that the Soviet authorities took exception to an article from the Kemsley Press which was reproduced in the "Weltpresse" on 7th February and which discussed the possible succession to Stalin. The Soviet authorities instructed the Austrian police to confiscate copies of the issue in their zone and sector and also sent a letter of protest to the Acting British High Commissioner. The latter replied on 12th February rejecting the Soviet protest and expressing his astonishment at the action taken by the Soviet authorities which he pointed out was contrary to Allied Council agreements.

As regards the third part of the Question, no Russian-sponsored papers have ever been confiscated in the British zone or in the British sector of Vienna.