THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, there is one other matter in which the House has been interested and which the noble Viscount has just mentioned, and with your permission I will make a statement about the position of the United Kingdom citizens who may have been under arrest in the Union of South Africa in the last few days. This is the latest information I have.
The United Kingdom High Commissioner in South Africa has reported that he has been assured by the Union Prime Minister that as soon as any arrested person has been identified to the satisfaction of the Union Government as a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies or a British-protected person, the High Commissioner or his representative may have access to him.
The High Commissioner has so far been informed of the names of three United Kingdom citizens who have been arrested: Mr. Peter Wilkins, who has now been released; Miss Hannah Stanton and Dr. Elias Letele. The High Commissioner is arranging to send a representative to visit both Miss Stanton and Dr. Letele immediately.
686 The High Commissioner has been further assured by the Union Prime Minister that persons against whom charges are brought will appear before the ordinary courts and may be legally represented. If they apply for bail this will be a matter for the courts to decide.