§ 32 and 33. Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) what action he is taking to safeguard the interests of British subjects arrested and detained by the new military Government in Greece;
§ (2) whether he will make a statement on the whereabout of Mrs. Betty 85 Ambatielos, arrested by the military Government in Greece.
§ 67. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what efforts have been made to secure the release of British-born subjects imprisoned by the new regime in Greece; and with what results.
§ Mr. William RodgersThe only British subjects arrested following the recent Greek coup were Mrs. Betty Ambatielos and two brothers named Olympios. Repeated representations to the Greek authorities were made on their behalf by our Embassy in Athens. The Olympios brothers were released and expelled from Greece on 6th May, and Mrs. Ambatielos on 27th May. To the best of my knowledge, all three are at present in this country.
§ Mr. RoseMy hon. Friend's efforts in this regard are greatly appreciated, but will he use his influence in N.A.T.O. and elsewhere to see that we have a speedy end to the military régime in Greece and a return to constitutional rule, and will he use his good offices on behalf of those thousands of Greeks still in prison without trial who have not had the benefit of his intervention?
§ Mr. RodgersI appreciate my hon. Friend's first observation, and I shall pass on his message to our Embassy in Athens, which did a lot of work in this respect. His supplementary question raises larger issues. We must always be concerned to try to get the best result we can in all the circumstances, and sometimes the more obvious way is not the best way to achieve it.
§ Mr. HamiltonWhy were these people detained in the first place, and have any proposals been made by Her Majesty's Government for compensation for them?
§ Mr. RodgersThey were detained by the Greek Government for security reasons. I do not think that the question of compensation arises, but I will look into it.
§ Mr. MawbyWill the hon. Gentleman consult his hon. Friend the Member for Swindon (Mr. Francis Noel-Baker) before finally making up his mind on this question?
§ Mr. Ian LloydCould the hon. Gentleman widen his answer on this subject and give some reassurance that Her Majesty's Government have a general and convincing policy for dealing with questions of this kind wherever and whenever they arise? May I draw his attention particularly to the plight of British subjects at the moment marooned on five British ships in the Bitter Lakes?
§ Mr. RodgersThe hon. Gentleman may certainly draw that to my attention, and I shall look into it. In general, we have very satisfactory arrangements and, when British subjects get into difficulties abroad, for whatever reason, prompt and effective action is taken.
§ Dr. David OwenWill my hon. Friend take it that, while many of us are grateful for the individual diplomatic initiatives which are taken, we feel that condemnation of this régime by the Government has been inadequate? With the sole exception of what has been said by the Lord President of the Council, we have not heard an outright condemnation of the regime, and we should like the Government to consider doing this at frequent intervals.
§ Mr. RodgersThe Government very well understand the mood of the House in this respect.