HC Deb 22 April 1959 vol 604 cc398-9
Mr. W. Yates

(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the circumstances in which Dame Margot Fonteyn was tricked by the Panamanian police authorities, was arrested and detained in prison, and why the Panamanian Government has refused to allow Her Majesty's Ambassador to communicate with her.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. John Profumo)

Dame Margot Fonteyn was released early this morning and left Panama at her own request at 0505 local time, which is five past eleven our time. I have not yet been able to get a full and authoritative account of the circumstances of her arrest.

Mr. Yates

I thank my hon. Friend for that reply. Is he aware that this treatment of a British subject by that Government has caused wide concern and is deeply resented, and that we are very glad that Dame Margot Fonteyn is free?

Mr. Profumo

I assure my hon. Friend that as far as I can make out, Her Majesty's Ambassador in Panama worked extremely hard and took immediate action to secure and safeguard the rights of a British subject. In fact, I can go so far as to say that throughout this regrettable incident Her Majesty's representative was well on his toes.

Mr. Bevan

Is the hon. Gentleman aware—I also put down a Private Notice Question on the same subject—that we are delighted that the intervention of the Ambassador has secured the release of this distinguished ballerina and that the British public, having seen her as a swan, did not appreciate her being cast in the role of a decoy duck?

Mr. Dugdale

While welcoming the intervention of Her Majesty's representative in the case of this distinguished lady, may I ask the Minister what is the difference between her case and that of Mr. Clutton-Brock, in which no intervention whatever has been made?

Mr. Profumo

The right hon. Gentleman knows as well as I do that there is a considerable difference between the two cases. I am responsible only for answering this Question and I gather from the right hon. Member for Ebbw Vale (Mr. Bevan) that he is wholly satisfied, which makes me believe that I have given the right answer.