HC Deb 21 January 1948 vol 446 cc196-7
35. Professor Savory

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what were the reasons for which Madame Marie Marynowska, who had been employed as interpreter in the British Embassy in Warsaw, was condemned to 12 years' imprisoned by a military tribunal.

Mr. McNeil

Mrs. Marynowska was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment on charges of acting as intermediary between His Majesty's Embassy and the United States Embassy and another defendant alleged to be a member of an illegal organisation, passing documents alleged to be of a secret nature to those Embassies, and translating a memorandum alleged to have been addressed to the United Nations organisation by a Polish underground organisation.

Professor Savory

Are these documents really genuine?

Mr. McNeil

I understand that probably there is an appeal pending. I have no doubt that the hon. Gentleman would agree that I should reserve any information I may have until that is disposed of.

Major Beamish

Can the right hon. Gentleman confirm that in fact any secret documents are missing from the British Embassy or that any were given to Mrs. Marynowska to hand to someone? Is not that rather important—are there any missing?