HC Deb 14 November 1960 vol 630 c6W
61. Mr. A. Lewis

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is aware that Herr C. Probst, Deputy Minister for Posts and Communications in East Germany, has been refused permission to enter this country for the purpose of discussing the placing of a £1,000,000 order with a British electrical firm; whether it was with his authority that an official of his Department stated that a person, other than a Minister, would be admitted for this purpose; and whether this procedure will be adopted with regard to other contracts now pending with East Germany.

Mr. Heath

Herr Probst was refused a travel document by the Allied Travel Office in Berlin in accordance with the common policy agreed by all the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries regarding visits by East Germans to North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries, which I described in my speech of 4th November. I am not aware of a statement by any official of the Foreign Office that a person other than a Minister would be admitted.