§ 3.30 p.m.
§ LORD VANSITTARTMy 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 whether a man named Robert Bialek has been kidnapped from the British Sector of West Berlin, and, if so, what action has been taken at Moscow.]
THE MARQUESS OF READINGMy Lords, Robert Bialek disappeared from a flat in the British Sector of Berlin on February 4, in circumstances which are at present obscure. The Acting British Commandant in Berlin wrote to the Soviet Commandant on February 8 informing him of Bialek's disappearance and asking him to make inquiries. No reply has yet beer, received. No other action has so far been taken, since the facts of the case have not yet been established.
§ LORD VANSITTARTMy Lords, seeing that the Communists frequently indulge in these outrages and the sufferings of the victims just do not bear thinking about, would it be possible to indicate to Moscow that the release of this man would be welcome before an impending visit?
THE MARQUESS OF READINGMy Lords, I think we had better see what the exact facts are before we contemplate any further step that we could take.
§ LORD VANSITTARTMy Lords, my fear is that we shall never hear anything further.