§ 8. Sir T. Beamishasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Reverend David Hathaway was arrested in Czechoslovakia; what charges were brought against him; when he was brought to trial; what arrangements were made by his Department for his defence; what sentence he has received; and what steps he proposes to take, in view of the public anger aroused by his treatment.
§ Mr. AmeryThe Reverend David Hathaway was arrested on 22nd June. At the time of his arrest he was in possession of bibles, religious pamphlets in a number of Eastern European languages, foreign currency and tape recorders. He was charged with sedition and incitement, evasion of customs duties and attempted distribution of foreign goods.
He was found guilty on the charges of sedition and incitement and the attempted distribution of foreign goods, and was sentenced to two years imprisonment for sedition and incitement followed by expulsion from Czechoslovakia.
Whatever view may be taken of Czechoslovak law on some of these matters, I have no evidence that there was anything improper about the conduct of his trial. Mr. Hathaway was defended by a lawyer appointed by the Czechoslovak authorities. The lawyer has entered a formal appeal.
It would be contrary to international usage for Her Majesty's Government to intervene while the case is sub judice.
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