§ 13. Mr. Warbeyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action is being taken by the British representative 1812 on the Allied Council for Austria in relation to the arrest by the Soviet authorities of an Austrian senior police official, Anton Marek.
§ 15. Professor Savoryasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will instruct the British representative on the Allied Control Commission in Vienna to bring before that Commission the arrest by the Russians of Chief Inspector Anton Marek of the Austrian Ministry of Home Security and ask for a report of the circumstances in which this arrest took place.
§ Mr. MayhewInspector Marek has been concerned with the recent series of disappearances of civilians in Austria. The Austrian authorities were not informed of his arrest and it was only in reply to an inquiry two days later by the Austrian Chancellor that the Soviet Deputy Commissioner stated that Mr. Marek had been arrested on the charge of organising espionage against the Soviet Occupation troops. At its meeting on 25th June, the Allied Council considered a communication from the Austrian Government drawing attention to the alarm caused in Austria by Mr. Marek's arrest.
The British High Commissioner observed that one of the primary tasks of the Allied Commission for Austria was to assist the Austrian Government to recreate sound, democratic conditions of life based on respect for law and order, and that the Control Agreement provided that the Allied Commission should act through the appropriate authorities. He considered that whether or not the charges against Mr. Marek were well founded, the Austrian Government should have been requested to hold the investigation. He, therefore, proposed that the Allied Commission should pass a resolution deploring the exercise of irregular coercive measures by agents of the Occupying Powers against inhabitants of Austria, and particularly against Austrian officials, that except when necessary to prevent a breach of peace, an official should only be arrested by the Austrian authorities and held in Austrian custody, and that Mr. Marek should be released or delivered to Austrian custody pending trial. This statement was strongly supported by the United States and French High Commissioners. The Soviet Representative, however, declined 1813 to discuss the matter and said that further information about Mr. Marek's case would be forthcoming in due course.
§ Mr. WarbeyIn thanking my hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask him whether he will make it clear to the Soviet authorities through the British representative in Vienna that all sections of opinion in this country, with insignificant exceptions, disapprove of the methods of arbitrary arrest and detention which appear to have been used in this case?
§ Mr. MayhewYes, I am glad to state that the High Commissioner undoubtedly spoke for the vast majority of British people on this subject.
§ Professor SavoryCan the hon. Gentleman give us any information in regard to the other cases of kidnapping? I believe that at least 14 other Austrian citizens have disappeared about whom no protest has been made. Can the Under-Secretary give us any information about those cases?
§ Mr. MayhewNo. I should require a separate Question to be put down on that matter.
§ 14. Mr. Warbeyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in what circumstances any of the occupation authorities in Austria have the right to arrest and detain members of the Austrian Civil Service.
§ Mr. MayhewBy the terms of the Control Agreement the High Commissioners of each Occupying Power may act at their own discretion for the protection and security of their Forces in Austria. By a decision of the Executive Committee, published on 19th March, the Austrian Government must be notified as soon as possible of the arrest of any Austrian citizens by an Occupying Power. I may add that the British High Commissioner and his Western colleagues have tried to obtain the Soviet High Commissioner's agreement to co-operate fully with the Austrian Government in these cases. A unanimous Resolution providing for such co-operation where Civil Servants were involved was, in fact, approved by the Allied Council in September, 1946. The Soviet authorities have not, however, carried out this agreement in the spirit intended.
§ Mr. WarbeyWhile recognising the need to make provision for the security of occupation forces in Austria, will my hon. Friend continue to make clear the importance of preserving civil servants from the fear of intimidation, which may prevent them from carrying out work in a democratic way?
§ Mr. MayhewYes, Sir, I cordially agree with the hon. Member.
§ Lieut.-Commander Gurney BraithwaiteWill the right hon. Gentleman note the beneficial effect on the hon. Member for Luton (Mr. Warbey) of the speech made there last Saturday?