HC Deb 06 July 1955 vol 543 cc1129-32
51. Mr. Gower

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on how many occasions during the past five years representations have been made about the cases of Phyllis Sispera and other British-born wives of Czechoslovak nationals to the Government of Czechoslovakia; what was the nature of those representations and the replies which have been received; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Nutting

Since July, 1950, Her Majesty's Embassy in Prague has addressed six notes to the Minister for Foreign Affairs in which the Foreign Minister was asked on humanitarian grounds to give facilities to those twelve British-born wives who wished to come home. Four notes remained unanswered. One reply was that six applications for permission to leave Czechoslovakia could not be granted as long as the women's marriages subsisted and that one woman had been divested of Czechoslovak citizenship. The other reply gave particulars of two more women who had been similarly divested.

Oral representations have been made four times this year by Her Majesty's Embassy at Prague on behalf of Mrs. Sispera and other British-born wives. The Czechoslovak Foreign Minister replied that one wife could travel to this country taking her children with her, that Mrs. Sispera could also go but must leave her children behind, and that the applications of two other wives would be refused.

Her Majesty's Embassy have frequently stressed to Czechoslovak officials the humanitarian aspect of this problem and the deplorable effect on Anglo-Czechoslovak relations produced by the restrictive policy of the Czechoslovak authorities. This aspect of the matter was further pointed out to the Czechoslovak Chargé d'Affaires on 2nd July.

I regret to have to add that, according to information which has just reached me, Mrs. Sispera was removed from her home yesterday morning by the Czechoslovak authorities. Her Majesty's Embassy is making urgent inquiries, and I should prefer not to say anything more for the moment.

Mr. Gower

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask whether he thinks that it might be helpful to convey to the Czechoslovak authorities the fact that the case where a wife and children were allowed to leave together probably had a very good effect upon opinion abroad; and to plead with them again to reconsider the other cases on humanitarian grounds?

Mr. Nutting

I think that the Czechoslovak authorities must be well aware, from the number of times we have told them, of the deplorable effect on relations with this country that their restrictive policy has had, and they must be equally aware that when they have allowed somebody to go, as they have recently done, that has had a good effect on Anglo-Czechoslovak relations.

52. Mr. Gower

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many British-born wives of Czechoslovak nationals are registered with British consulates in Czechoslovakia or known by his Department to be in that country; how many of them have retained British nationality; and how many of them are known to be divorced.

Mr. Nutting

Ninety-eight. As far as is known, none has lost her British nationality. Five are known to be divorced.

53. Mr. Gower

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many British-born wives of nationals of Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Roumania are known to be in those countries; how many are registered with British Consulates in those countries; what inquiries have been made during the past five years into their welfare; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Nutting

In Poland 246 British-born wives are registered at British consulates, and of these seventy-three have made application to leave the country. In Hungary thirty-three are registered and six have applied to leave. In Roumania twelve are registered and four have applied to leave. So far as is known, there is only one British-born wife in Bulgaria and she has not registered.

Her Majesty's Government have constantly made representations on humanitarian grounds to the Governments concerned in the interests of those British-born wives who wish to return home. In Poland the position has recently improved, permission to leave having been granted to fourteen applicants since 1st January last.

Mr. Gower

Will my right hon. Friend convey to the respective Governments of these countries that the sad plight of these unhappy women is a matter of profound concern in this country?

Mr. Nutting

I have already done so on several occasions, and we shall continue to press for a more humanitarian policy.

Mr. Bellenger

Are we to understand that the British-born wives want to bring their husbands with them whenever they can, or do they want to leave their husbands behind?

Mr. Nutting

In some cases the women have been divorced from their husbands, but they are still not allowed to leave. In some other cases they have even been divested of their second nationality, but have not been allowed to leave. In other cases they are allowed to leave but are not allowed to bring their children with them because the State concerned claims the children. In all cases we have pointed out to the authorities the deplorable effect upon relations with this country if no more humanitarian policy is pursued.

Mr. Nicholson

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied that these British nationals have free access to British consulates, or are they in any way impeded? Is he satisfied that the list that he has given is comprehensive and there are no others who have not been allowed to register?

Mr. Nutting

So far as I am aware, nobody has been refused permission to register with the British Consulate, but there are, of course, cases—I prefer not to list the countries for obvious reasons—where British-born wives have not registered because they fear that they might be molested if they were to have anything to do with the British authorities.

Mr. Daines

Can we have an assurance that British consulates maintain active and continual contact with the women because of the danger that once the case gets out of the publicity range action may be taken such as is suggested in the case of Mrs. Sispera?

Mr. Nutting

Yes, Sir, I can certainly give the hon. Gentleman that assurance. The fact that, 24 hours after the unhappy incident which took place yesterday in the case of Mrs. Sispera, we heard about it, shows that we are in constant touch, but, of course, we are in constant touch only with those who are registered with us and not with those who prefer not to be.