§ Mr. James Davidsonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will give details of the incident involving Brigadier C. D. N. Harper, British Military Attaché in Moscow, at Kishinev on 17th November when he was assaulted and had personal possessions removed; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Goronwy RobertsOn 17th November the British and American Military Attachés visited a wine-making farm near Kishinev where they sampled wines and sherries and ate food which was offered them. On returning to their hotel room they both suffered a violet attack of 167W vomiting and retired to their beds. Subsequent medical examination of the two officers gave material evidence for suspecting that the wine had been tampered with.
About four hours after the Attachés returned to their room a group of five or six men broke into it, forcibly held them down, tore open their clothes and removed their money belts containing personal papers. The intruders remained for an hour and refused at first to recognise the Attachés as diplomats.
This was a serious violation of diplomatic immunity, involving the use of force and strong protests have been made to the Soviet Ministry of Foreign Affairs.