§ 42. Mr. Dribergasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that Miss Ursula Wassermann, who lived in England for six years as a student and refugee from Nazi Germany, has been refused a visa to enter the United Kingdom for a brief visit to discuss with her British publisher the forthcoming publication in London of her book; and if, in view of the fact that she visited the United Kingdom without difficulty on an Israeli passport in 1951, 1952 and 1953, he will reconsider this refusal.
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeI regret that I am not prepared to reconsider the decision to refuse a visa in this case, which was taken by my predecessor.
§ Mr. DribergAlthough I know that the Home Secretary is under no obligation to explain his reasons for such action, will he agree that it does seem somewhat arbitrary and strange in the case of a person who has, as my Question states, visited this country so often with, apparently, no harmful consequences to the country? Can the right hon. and gallant Gentleman indicate at all what the background of the case is?
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeNo, Sir, I cannot go further than say that applications for visas are considered on their merits and in relation to the facts of the particular case. It would not be in the public interest to say more than that.
§ Mr. DribergCan the right hon. and gallant Gentleman say whether there have been any representations from the State Department in Washington about the case?
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeSo far as I am aware, none. This has been done purely on the merits of the application which has been made.