HC Deb 05 June 1956 vol 553 cc857-8
18. Mr. Donnelly

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will make a statement regarding the fate of Lance-Corporal Harry Gordon Hill and Private Ronald Shilton, both of the British forces stationed in Cyprus.

Mr. Head

Lance-Corporal Hill was last seen in Cyprus on 19th December, 1955, and Private Shilton on 17th April, 1956. E.O.K.A. leaflets printed in English and Greek claimed that both the soldiers were hanged on 10th May and that their bodies were secretly buried as a reprisal for the execution of the two Greek Cypriots Karaolis and Demetrious. No trace of evidence has been found that the soldiers were held by E.O.K.A. It is significant that before the executions they never stated that the soldiers were held as hostages and no attempt was made to use them as a basis for bargaining. The leaflet was inaccurate in some respects. I regret to say that we have no information from any source to show what has happened to these two men.

Mr. Donnelly

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, in view of the vast security forces available in Cyprus and the fact that one of these men has been missing for a very long time, his answer is most unsatisfactory? While there is no evidence that these men have been hanged, there is no evidence to show that they have not. It is a very grave matter, and a terrible tragedy may have occurred. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the public are left with the impression, because of prevarication, that the Government may not be prepared to face the consequences of public opinion in this country as a result of what may have happened?

Mr. Head

I think that that is misrepresenting the facts. Nobody is more upset than I am that these two men are missing. I am merely saying that they are missing and that it is claimed that they were held and hanged. From the information that we have, the facts suggest that that is a misrepresentation and that they were not held and not hanged, but nobody can be certain.

Mr. Strachey

Is not the real position that these tragedies on both sides and these outrages on both sides will go on as long as the Government's present policy in Cyprus continues?