HC Deb 03 June 1946 vol 423 cc253-4W
75. Sir T. Moore

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can yet make a statement in regard to the trial of General Mihailovitch; and whether British witnesses will now be permitted to give evidence according to their declared wishes.

77. Mr. Hollis

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will ask the Yugoslav Government to provide him with a verbatim report of the trial of General Mihailovitch and lay a copy of such report in the Library of this House.

78. Mr. H. Strauss

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government has requested facilities for British subjects desirous of giving evidence, oral or written, at the trial of Mihailovitch; and whether, in this and associated matters, the action of His Majesty's Government has been coordinated with that of the U.S.A.

90. Squadron-Leader Donner

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will approach the U.S. Government with a view to making a joint request to the Yugoslav Government to permit British and U.S. officers, including medical officers, to visit General Mihailovitch; and whether he will make representations to the Yugoslav Government that British officers who fought with the general should be allowed to give oral evidence at his trial.

Mr. McNeil

Permission has been given to certain British officers to forward evidence on behalf of General Mihailovitch through His Majesty's Embassy. This evidence was delivered to the Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs on 18th May, and on 23rd May the Yugoslav Minister for Foreign Affairs stated, according to a report by the Official Yugoslav Press Agency, that all written statements made would be passed on to the court for its judgment. My right hon. Friend does not intend to request the Yugoslav Government to provide special facilities for British subjects who wish to give oral evidence at the trial. Such a request by the United States Government has, I understand, already been refused.

His Majesty's Government have not consulted the United States Government with regard to the action they have taken in this matter, nor does my right hon. Friend think it would serve any useful purpose to put forward a request to the Yugoslav Government such as that proposed by the hon. and gallant Member for Basingstoke. Further, my right hon. Friend does not consider it necessary to ask the Yugoslav Government for a verbatim record of the trial since it is understood that representatives of the foreign Press will be present, and I have little doubt that a full account of the proceedings will be published.