Deportations (Human Rights) (Hansard, 2 May 1956)

§ 52. Mr. Holt
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the action of Her Majesty's Government in deporting Archbishop Makarios and others from Cyprus and detaining them in the Seychelles has been notified under the terms of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms; how, and when such notification was made; and what steps were taken by him to bring such action to the attention of the other signatories of the Convention.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
In accordance with "Article 15 (3) of the Convention, notification was made by note to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe on 13th April. This action fully discharged Her Majesty's Government's obligations under the Convention.

§ Mr. Holt
Do I understand from that. Answer that no other signatories to the Convention were informed by Her Majesty's Government? Is the Secretary of State aware that the Secretary-General has not passed this information on to anyone and the most unfortunate impression has got abroad that this was due to the influence of Her Majesty's Government? Does he not think that when serious steps like this are taken in regard to human rights it is most desirable that it should be done openly?

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
This was certainly done openly, and we have fully discharged our obligation. There is no obligation at all under the Convention for Her Majesty's Government to inform other signatories of the notification. As to what happened to our notification afterwards, that is not for me to say, but I know that there is nothing in the Convention which lays down what should happen to notifications after they have been submitted to the Secretary-General.

§ Dame Florence Horsbrugh
Is it not the case that, this subject having been brought up at the Council of Europe, it was made absolutely clear that Her Majesty's Government did notify these facts, that the Secretary-General had received the facts, and that there was no feeling whatever that Her Majesty's Government had not done everything they should do under the Convention?

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
I am very grateful to my right hon. Friend for that.