HL Deb 20 October 1954 vol 189 cc505-6

2.49 p.m.

LORD VANSITTART

My Lords, I beg to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps have been taken to secure the release of Mr. Robert Ford from brutal and prolonged maltreatment by the Chinese Communists.]

THE MARQUESS OF READING

My Lords, between November, 1950 (one month after his arrest), and the first week of this month, representations on behalf of Mr. Ford have been made to the Chinese authorities by Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Peking on more than twenty occasions. During the conference held at Geneva in May, Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires again raised the case of Mr. Ford with a member of the Chinese delegation; the reply was that our representations would be taken into account. Our latest information is that the Chinese Ministry for Foreign Affairs allege that Mr. Ford has confessed; they add that he has been found guilty but that sentence has not yet been pronounced.

In the summer of 1953, Mr. Ford was seen by another British prisoner at Chungking (since released) who reported that he was apparently fit and well. As no member of Her Majesty's Embassy has been permitted to visit Mr. Ford, I have no knowledge regarding the treatment accorded to him.

LORD VANSITTART

My Lords, may I point out, with the permission of some noble Lord on the Back Bench, that in the case of Mr. Edgar Sanders we devised some economic means of ensuring his release. Is not this a similar case?

VISCOUNT HAILSHAM

Would it not be more in the interests of good relations between China and this country if outrages of this kind were discontinued than that invitations should be issued to political Parties to enjoy their hospitality?

VISCOUNT STANSGATE

May I give notice that to-morrow I shall ask the noble Marquess whether he had any knowledge of the refusal of our representative in Moscow to sit down at the table with the Chinese Ambassador?

VISCOUNT HAILSHAM

About time, too!

THE MARQUESS OF READING

I am obliged for that information.

LORD VANSITTART

May I have an answer to my supplementary question? Would the noble Marquess consider the parallelism of this case with that of Mr. Edgar Sanders?

THE MARQUESS OF READING

The noble Lord may be quite sure that this case has not escaped attention, and if there were anything substantial to be done in the way that he has suggested, that, too, would have been taken into account. Certainly, we have the very keenest interest in doing what we can to alleviate Mr. Ford's position. Indeed, may I add this: that as a result of Geneva he was permitted to write letters, which he had not previously been allowed to do, although I think that only one has actually been received by his parents.

EARL JOWITT

As one who is most anxious to promote Chinese and British understanding and trade, may I ask the noble Marquess whether, since Geneva and the better atmosphere that has been created, this particular matter has been mentioned again? Surely it would be all to the good, in the interests of both countries and of humanity as a whole, if the Chinese Government determined to put an end to the imprisonment of this gentleman.

THE MARQUESS OF READING

I agree completely with the noble and learned Earl in saying that it would be a very good thing if the Chinese took that view but, as I said in the original Answer, we made representations at Geneva which we were told would be taken into account. All we have heard since is that Mr. Ford is supposed to have confessed to a series of crimes with which he is charged.