HC Deb 02 November 1949 vol 469 cc375-6
12. Mr. Warbey

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what instructions he has given to the British delegation to the United Nations General Assembly in regard to proposals made in the Political Committee that the Greek Government should be requested to show clemency towards political prisoners now under sentence of death in Greece.

Mr. Mayhew

None, Sir, since the proposals were raised without previous warning. His Majesty's Government nevertheless fully approve of the part which the United Kingdom Delegate took in the debate.

Mr. Warbey

Whatever the Government's view may be of the official legal position, will my hon. Friend find some way of indicating the abhorrence that would be felt among Western democrats if, now that the civil war in Greece is ended, men whose only crimes, if any, are political, should be executed?

Mr. Mayhew

I cannot agree with all the assumptions in that question. As has been said before, we have no standing to intervene in these trials. At the same time I am sure it is the hope of the whole House that the Greek Government will find it possible to be generous to those who have been misled.

Mr. Driberg

May I ask my hon. Friend—arising out of what he has just said—at what point of time did His Majesty's Government cease to have any standing to intervene, since they were able to make representations until fairly recently?

Mr. Mayhew

We have never had any status to intervene in this question, which is an internal affair of the Greek Government.

Mr. Austin

In view of the previous answer to my hon. Friend, will the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that it was reported in yesterday's Press that a further 19 persons are being sentenced to death in Greece, and that the question of their execution hangs in the balance and is dependent on the views of what is known as the pardons committee. In view of the opinions expressed, will my hon. Friend make representations?

Mr. Mayhew

I have already answered the main point of that supplementary question. I would add, however, that whatever the merits of these cases, which I do not wish to prejudice, the campaign which is being run for these people by Communist controlled organisations, such as the League for Democracy in Greece, is a shocking example of mendacity and hypocrisy.