HC Deb 14 April 1960 vol 621 cc1472-5
45. Mr. Driberg

asked the Prime Minister what further information he has received about citizens of the United Kingdom and British protected persons arrested recently in South Africa and detained without trial or charge; and if he will endeavour to secure their release by making direct representations to the Prime Minister of the Union.

The Prime Minister

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made yesterday by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations. So far as representations to the Prime Minister of the Union are concerned, the High Commissioner saw the Prime Minister on this subject last week before the attempt on his life and he has since been keeping in close touch with Ministers in the South African Government.

Mr. Driberg

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Minister of State yesterday steadily refused to answer repeated questions urging him that Her Majesty's Government should make a direct demand to the South African Government for the release of these people? He refused to do that. Whether the right hon. Gentleman communicates with the Prime Minister or, at present, with the Deputy Prime Minister, cannot he take a somewhat more forthright attitude than the Minister of State took yesterday?

The Prime Minister

If the Minister of State refused yesterday, I should be very foolish to consent today.

Mr. Gresham-Cooke

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is a good deal of feeling on both sides of the House on the matter and that it is felt that we should take firm action to ask for the release of these people, in particular of one of my constituents, Miss Stanton? Is he further aware that it is extremely difficult to get information out of South Africa? I have a letter in my pocket in reply to a cable from constituents in which the writer of the letter, a British subject in South Africa, dare not put his address and dare not refer to the matter of Miss Stanton at all? It is up to the Government to make representations.

The Prime Minister

That is the purpose of the communications which the High Commissioner is having with members of the Government.

Mr. Marquand

Will not the Prime Minister respond to what is the unanimous view of the House of Commons? Is he aware that yesterday, when his hon. Friend made his statement, the whole House indicated by its attitude its disappointment with that statement? Is he further aware that these two United Kingdom subjects have been held in detention for two weeks without any charge being preferred against them and with little, if any, opportunity of even getting legal advice? Will he not speak out now as Prime Minister in the name of the whole country?

The Prime Minister

The object which I think we ought to follow is to try to see what help we can give. By far the best way is by making representations through the High Commissioner to the Ministers concerned.

Mr. Driberg

Can the Prime Minister not even ask that Miss Stanton and the others should be released on bail?

The Prime Minister

I have every confidence in the High Commissioner, who I am sure will do all he possibly can. and I am sure that this method is the one most likely to obtain what we hope to achieve.

Mr. Langford-Holt

Will my right hon. Friend at least say that there is no intention that this matter will drag on indefinitely? It has been going on now for two weeks, and this House is rightly jealous of the rights and privileges of those who are entitled to its protection.

The Prime Minister

Yes. I hope that it will not drag on. We shall do all that we can.

Mr. Gaitskell

Has the Prime Minister observed that, when a Canadian journalist was arrested, the Canadian Government made a strong and public protest, which resulted in his almost immediate release? Does not the Prime Minister think in this case, where these two British subjects have been imprisoned without charge for fourteen days and where the High Commissioner is still unable to find what charge is to be made or may be made against them, that the time has come for a public demand for their release?

The Prime Minister

I will do ail that I can, but I do honestly feel that this is the best method of approach in this particular case.

Mr. Mendelson

Is the Prime Minister aware that these people are held completely incommunicado? What would normally have happened is that a number of people who have written to Members of this House, including myself, might have got in touch with these two persons themselves and might have sent all the legal help which they were able to. None of this can now be done. Will he not seriously consider that that makes it absolutely imperative that he should act on behalf of all those who have written to Members of the House?

The Prime Minister

I continue to say that I will do all that I can, and I am quite sure that it is not our intention to let this matter drag. We shall try to bring it to a successful conclusion.

Several Hon. Members rose—

Mr. Speaker

We cannot debate this now.