HC Deb 19 November 1952 vol 507 cc1835-6
1. Air Commodore Harvey

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to consider applying the same restrictions to the movements of the Ambassador and staff of the Polish Embassy in London as is now applied to the ambassadors and staffs of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and her satellite countries who have representatives over here.

The Joint Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Anthony Nutting)

There are no restrictions on travel in Poland for the staff of Her Majesty's Embassy at Warsaw. It is, therefore, not Her Majesty's Government's intention to impose restrictions on the movements of Polish representatives here.

Air Commodore Harvey

Does not my hon. Friend realise that there is precious little to see in Poland and that, by having one country free, and by having their own agents looking round British installations, the Soviet is obtaining all the information it wants? Will he look into the matter again?

Mr. Nutting

I have no doubt that the most stringent precautions are taken by the security services in this country to ensure that the freedom which Polish diplomatists and other representatives have here is not abused in the way suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend. We shall certainly keep a very close watch on the matter.

Mr. Elwyn Jones

Is not the principle of reciprocity the best one to apply here? Is not Her Majesty's Government's attitude towards the matter the correct one?

Mr. Nutting

Her Majesty's Government's attitude is, of course, based on reciprocity.