§ 66. Mr. J. R. H. Hutchisonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps he has taken to establish contact with repatriated Austrians until recently in Soviet or satellite hands; and whether he will now give an assurance that the lists of British citizens in Russians hands previously drawn up by his Department are unaffected by this new evidence.
§ Mr. TurtonHer Majesty's Embassy in Vienna have requested the Austrian authorities for permission to question the repatriated Austrians about British subjects who are alleged to be detained in the Soviet Union. The Austrian authorities are prepared to give full facilities, but not before the returned prisoners have had time to settle down. Some of the names so far mentioned in the most recent Press 69W reports had been included in the previous list of alleged British subjects reported to be in Russian hands, but there are other names which have not been mentioned previously. These reports are receiving careful investigation.