HC Deb 25 March 1948 vol 448 cc3351-2
Mr. Bing

(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that Mrs. Reinerova, a Czechoslovak member of the Diplomatic Corps in London, and at present on a routine visit to Prague, has not been granted a visa to enable her to return to her diplomatic post, and whether he proposes to instruct the British authorities in Prague to issue a visa.

The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Mayhew)

No, Sir. Mrs. Reinerova is regarded as no longer acceptable to His Majesty's Government in a diplomatic capacity and the Czechoslovak Government have been informed that it is impossible to grant a visa for her return to London.

Mr. Bing

Without in any way going into the merits of the case, is not this method of dealing with it a complete departure from diplomatic practice? [HON. MEMBERS: "No."] Does not my hon. Friend realise that so long as someone is on the Diplomatic List, a visa ought to be granted as a matter of course?

Mr. Mayhew

No, Sir. The hon. Member is quite misinformed, and if he did go into the merits of the case he would, I am sure, be entirely in agreement with what I have said.