HC Deb 17 June 1953 vol 516 cc956-7
21. Mr. F. Maclean

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will now make fresh representations to the Soviet Government in the hope that they may be induced to allow the wives of British subjects to join their husbands in this country.

31. Mr. Dodds

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on what date the most recent approach was made to the Soviet Government for exit visas for Russian wives of British subjects; and what progress has been made.

Mr. Nutting

Her Majesty's Ambassador in Moscow made representations to Mr. Molotov on this subject on 11th April last, when he took up the case of Mrs. Klara Hall, an employee of the Embassy in Moscow and the Russian-born wife of Mr. Alfred Hall. Her Majesty's Ambassador has since discussed the case again but has received no satisfaction so far.

Mr. Dodds

Will the hon. Gentleman see that the Russians are made aware that no single incident has done more harm to good will between the people of this country and the Russians than preventing 15 women from joining their husbands, and will he inform them that it will be a big step forward in the right direction if permission is given for them to live together in the proper way?

Mr. Nutting

I can tell the hon. Gentleman that the Soviet Government have been left in no doubt whatever that the views of Her Majesty's Government are in accord with the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question.

Mr. Emrys Hughes

While endorsing what has been said by my hon. Friend about Russian wives being allowed to join their husbands, may I ask the Minister whether he is aware that the Foreign Office refuses to give facilities for British husbands who wish to meet their wives in Moscow to get employment in Moscow, and that one thing is as bad as the other?

Mr. Nutting

I emphatically repudiate the hon. Member's supplementary.

Mr. Emrys Hughes

It is true.

Mr. Nutting

It does not need a great deal of imagination to realise that any Britisher in such a situation as has been described by the hon. Gentleman would be a considerable security risk were he employed in the Soviet Union, and would be liable to a considerable amount of blackmail and pressure, should Soviet authorities or their agents choose to impose such upon him.