§ 19. Mr. Stratton Millsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when Mr. Sean Bourke called at the United Kingdom Embassy in Moscow; and if he will make a statement as to the reason given by Mr. Bourke for his visit.
§ Mr. George BrownOn 4th September a man claiming to be Sean Bourke called at our Moscow Embassy asking about means of returning to the United Kingdom. The Embassy explained that his identity must be established before a travel document could be issued to him and, as he claimed to be a citizen of the Irish Republic, authority for this would have to be sought from that Government. He would also need a Soviet exit visa. He was asked to call again but has not as yet done so.
§ Mr. Stratton MillsCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether Mr. Bourke was asked any questions about the escape of George Blake?
§ Mr. BrownThat did not seem to arise at that point. The point at issue was to establish whether he was who he said he was. If he is who he claimed to be, he is subject to a warrant in this country. This has nothing to do with the Blake case, but is for threatening to murder a police officer, and we would have had to take the necessary steps to arrange for him to come back to stand his trial if that were his wish, but we never got beyond that, because he never reappeared.