§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which British journalists and radio and television reporters have now been expelled from Czechoslovakia; what reasons were given; in how many cases Her Majesty's Government were notified that expulsions were at the request of the Soviet authorities in Czechoslovakia; what representations have been made, and with what result; and what retaliatory measures have been taken, and are proposed.
§ Mr. Goronwy RobertsAs far as we are aware, in the last two months Mr. Alan Tilliers, Mr. Leslie Appleton and Mr. Ian Mather. The Czechoslovak authorities have also mentioned a Mr. Alan Freimann as being among a number of Western journalists expelled at the same time as Mr. Mather, but we have no further information about him. We understand that Mr. Tilliers was told that he had used unacceptable methods of collecting information: that Mr. Appleton was told he had provided film for a television company without Czechoslovak permission, having entered the country on a tourist visa: and that Mr. Mather was warned shortly before his expulsion186W to "moderate" his reporting. In no case have we been notified that these expulsions were made as a result of a Soviet request. Her Majesty's Embassy in Prague expressed concern to the Czechoslovak Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the action taken against Mr. Tilliers. Representations were also made to the Ministry about the treatment given to Mr. Appleton and a reply has been promised. No retaliatory measures have been taken nor do we consider they would be useful.