§ 23. Commander Courtneyasked the Lord Privy Seal whether any report was received by his Department in 1951 from the Head of Mission in Warsaw commenting adversely on the conduct of the Naval Attaché's clerk; and whether any 436 subsequent action was taken by his Department with the security authorities direct.
§ Mr. GodberNo, Sir.
§ Commander CourtneyWill my hon. Friend confirm that the heads of missions in foreign capitals accept full responsibility for the security and conduct of their staff, including that of their Service advisers? Does he not think that in this rather unsavoury case, security obviously demanded that Her Majesty's Ambassador in Warsaw should have reported this incident?
§ Mr. GodberIt is true that the head of mission accepts responsibility for all staff, including attachés and their clerks. Appropriate action was taken in this case by the Naval Attaché and by the Admiralty and there was no cause for the Ambassador to report the matter to the Foreign Office.