§ 38. Mr. Dribergasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that on Thursday, 7th April, Mr. Ronald Segal and Mr. Oliver Tambo, two South African citizens who had escaped to Bechuanaland, were still uncertain if they would be allowed to come to the United Kingdom as political refugees; and what steps have been taken urgently to communicate to them an assurance that this will be permitted.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerAs I indicated in reply to Questions on the 4th April, there is no difficulty about the admission to the United Kingdom of British subjects or British protected persons.
§ Mr. DribergDoes that assurance apply to these two particular cases? Could the right hon. Gentleman make it quite clear that they can come here, since a week ago they were still unsure and saying that their applications for permission to come here—or whatever steps they had taken—had not been replied to?
§ Mr. ButlerThe practice and rules in regard to British subjects are well known. I shall go further and say that if a British subject were to arrive without a valid passport or travel document, we would ask him to produce such evidence as he could to prove that he is a British subject. That, I think, would cover the case as best we can.