HC Deb 19 October 1949 vol 468 cc540-1
27. Mr. Blackburn

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what reply he has received from the Soviet authorities in respect of the detention by them of Private R. Tirell, Queen's Royal Regiment; whether our representative has seen Private Tirell; and with what result.

Mr. Bevin

A satisfactory reply has not yet been received from the Soviet authorities. On 16th September, 1949, the General Officer Commanding British troops in Berlin visited the Garrison Commander of the Soviet sector and requested the immediate release of Private Tirell or alternatively that he should be allowed to send a staff officer to interview him. The Garrison Commander promised to look into this matter. In spite of a written reminder on 30th September, the Soviet authorities have not yet complied with our request. The British authorities are continuing to press energetically for the right to interview Private Tirell.

Mr. Blackburn

Is it a fact that a British subject has now been held for a long period of time by the Soviet authorities in circumstances which must cause us the greatest possible disquiet, and are there other British subjects held by them? Will my right hon. Friend personally take steps over and above the heads of the local authorities in Berlin in order to indicate that this Parliament takes a very severe view of those who maltreat British subjects in any part of the world?

Mr. Bevin

I understand that there are one or two more, but I am not certain whether or not they have gone voluntarily.

Mr. Quintin Hogg

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the second part of the last supplementary question, whether the time has not come to remove these representations from the purely military level in Berlin and for political representations to come from the right hon. Gentleman?

Mr. Bevin

Well, I seem to get the same result.

Mr. John Hynd

As the question of political asylum may be involved in such cases, will my right hon. Friend give an assurance that if the desertions are voluntary and are mainly for political purposes, whether from this side or from the other side, there will be no question of forcible return?

Mr. Bevin

If a Russian soldier comes over to our zone we do not use force to send him back; but we have always allowed a Russian officer to interview the man, and that is exactly what we on our side are asking for.