§ 12. Mr. Martenasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement about the disappearance of a Foreign Office official from a Baltic Island in March.
§ 41. Mr. Howeasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is satisfied with the results of investigations made into the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of a Foreign Office official from a Baltic island in March; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. George ThomsonThe hon. Members are no doubt referring to Mr. John Echevarria, a member of the British Military Government staff in Berlin, who was reported missing from the Baltic Island of Fehmarn on Sunday, 14th March.
Investigations have been carried out by the German police and a member of the Staff of the British Military Government, Berlin, has also visited the island to make inquiries. No definite conclusion has been reached and the police have listed Mr. Echevarria as a missing person. The most likely explanation of the disappearance seems to be that Mr. Echevarria, who was spending the weekend studying possible diving sites, lost his 901 footing on the slippery surface of a mole and fell into the icy water.
§ Mr. MartenMay I express my sympathy, and I am sure that of the House, with the family in this tragic accident? Can the hon. Gentleman give an assurance that no security implication is involved in this? I believe that such an assurance would satisfy the family and the public. Is the hon. Gentleman satisfied that everything was done at the time to investigate this tragic accident?
§ Mr. ThomsonYes, Sir. I should like to express the Government's sympathy in this tragic accident. I can assure the hon. Member on the point which he raises. Mr. Echevarria was concerned with accounts and administrative duties and had access to very few classified papers. Such papers as he would have seen would have been of no particular interest to anyone outside Her Majesty's Government. Therefore, there is no security issue involved in this.
§ Mr. HoweCan the hon. Gentlemen say whether, as this man's family believes, his passport was in the car when he and his companions left it on the 14th and was not found there when the car was discovered the following day? Is this a fact and has this been taken into account in the course of the investigations made? Will the hon. Gentleman assure the House and the family that they will be kept aware of any discovery made as a result of further inquiries?
§ Mr. ThomsonYes, Sir. The Government are keeping closely in touch with the inquiries as they are being pursued and we should certainly communicate any information we obtain as quickly as possible. The point about the passport has been looked into. What the hon. Member says about it is right. I understand that Mr. Echevarria was in the habit of taking the passport with him wherever he went and therefore I do not think that one should draw conclusions from that fact.