HC Deb 21 June 1948 vol 452 cc932-4
26. Major Beamish

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that three British Press correspondents have recently been refused permission to remain in Czechoslovakia; what form of protest was made by the British Ambassador; and what reply has been received from the Czechoslovak Government.

32. Mr. A. R. W. Low

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement about the withdrawal by the Czechoslovak Government of the visa issued to Mr. Alec Lawrenson, correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph" in Prague, whereby he was forced to leave Czechoslovakia; and what measures His Majesty's Ambassador has taken in this connection.

Mr. McNeil

I regret to inform the House that three British newspaper correspondents, Mr. Alec Collett of the "Daily Telegraph," Mr. Karl Robson of the "News Chronicle," and Mr. Alex Lawrenson of the "Daily Telegraph," have recently been refused permission to stay in Czechoslovakia. Mr. Patrick Smith, the B.B.C. correspondent, has also been refused an entry visa. The reasons given by the Czechoslovak authorities for Mr. Collett's expulsion were that his presence might "be a threat to public peace, order, or the safety of the State." In the cases both of Mr. Robson and Mr. Lawrenson the reasons alleged were "interference with the police" on behalf of Mr. Collett's fiancée, now Mrs. Collett, who was detained by the Czech police when attempting to leave Prague airport with him but was released and allowed to proceed after some discussion.

His Majesty's Ambassador in Prague has protested both verbally and in writing to the Czechoslovak authorities about the treatment of Mr. Robson and Mr. Lawrenson on the grounds that the charges alleged against them were not sufficiently precise or sufficiently weighty to justify their expulsion. A reply on Mr. Robson's case which merely repeats and amplifies the charges made against him has been received from the Czechoslovak Government. No reply has yet been received about Mr. Lawrenson.

This inexplicably severe action by the Czechoslovak Government is all the more deplorable in view of the close and friendly Press relations which we have hitherto enjoyed with Czechoslovakia.

Major Beamish

Is the Minister of State aware that the real reason for the exclusion of these people is the wish of the Czech Government to conceal the truth of the situation from the outside world? Has he contrasted this action on the part of the Communists of Czechoslovakia with our own broadmindedness in providing considerable quantities of newsprint for the Czech Foreign Office English language weekly published in London, which carries out violent attacks on His Majesty's Government?

Mr. Low

Will the Minister of State expand his answer a little further? Is it not his opinion that it is the considered policy of the Czechoslovak Government to exclude correspondents who understand that particular part of the world? Is there not further proof that that is so in the fact that Mr. Christopher Buckley, who has experience of reporting elections in Hungary and Poland, has been refused permission to enter Czechoslovakia at this time?

Mr. McNeil

I can only repeat that in the matters which I have been asked to examine there could be no suggestion of unprofessional or unworthy behaviour on the part of these journalists. I greatly deplore this action and I hope that it may be rescinded.

Mr. Julius Silverman

Can the Minister of State say how many British correspondents remain in Czechoslovakia?

Mr. McNeil

Not without notice.

Mr. Chetwynd

Is there anything in the records of these journalists to show that any of them have expressed anti-democratic views?

Mr. McNeil

On the contrary; Mr. Robson, who has been prevented from re-entering, was expelled, to his great credit, by both Hitler and Franco.

Major Beamish

Will the Minister of State look again at the fact that we are providing considerable quantities of newsprint from our own very short supplies for this paper known as the "New Central European Observer," and will he consider cutting off its supplies.

Mr. McNeil

Without agreeing to the deductions which the hon. and gallant Gentleman has made, certainly I will look at the supplies.