HC Deb 02 December 1959 vol 614 c131W
80. Mr. Teeling

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is yet in a position to make a statement concerning compensation from the Cuban Government for Mr. Topham of Brighton.

Mr. R. Allan

As my hon. Friend is aware, we have made repeated representations to the Cuban authorities in order to obtain compensation for Mr. Topham for the serious injuries which he suffered in February, 1956.

The Cuban Government for a long time held the view that the question of granting compensation could only be considered after the trial of Mr. Topham's assailant had taken place.

Following the recent revolution in Cuba it seems that the assailant may now be missing or dead. If this is so, Her Majesty's Ambassador in Havana has urged the Cuban Ministry of State to agree to consider the question of compensation without delay on the basis of the abundant documentary evidence already in its possession.

The latest development is that the Cuban Minister of State assured Her Majesty's Ambassador on 25th November that he was looking into the matter personally with a view to finding an early solution.