HC Deb 27 October 1952 vol 505 cc171-3W
Major Beamish

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will tabulate the number of cases since 15th May, 1950, in which protests have been made to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Soviet-dominated countries regarding the treatment of British nationals and employees at British Embassies and Consulates in those countries; and how many of these cases have been satisfactorily concluded.

Mr. Nutting

Yes. The following is the information required:

Soviet Union

  1. 1. On 20th July, 1950, Mrs Burke, an Anglo-Soviet dual national, employed as a telephone operator at H.M. Embassy in Moscow, disappeared. In reply to repeated representations made by H.M. Embassy the Soviet authorities stated that Mrs. Burke was a Soviet citizen, and that they were not prepared to discuss the matter.
  2. 2. On 12th February, 1951, Mrs. Bolton, an Anglo-Soviet dual national, employed as a clerk at H.M. Embassy in Moscow, disappeared. Representations by H.M. Embassy remain unanswered.
  3. 3. On 16th October, 1951. Mrs. Rickitts, an Anglo-Soviet dual national employed at H.M. Embassy in Moscow, was abducted outside a Moscow theatre. An immediate protest was made to the Soviet authorities. Mrs. Rickitts later telephoned H.M. Embassy to say that she was living with her mother and she has not returned to the Embassy.

Czechoslovakia

  1. 1. On 25th May, 1950, Dr. L. Pinkas, a naturalised British subject of Czechoslovak origin employed by H.M. Embassy in Prague in a non-diplomatic capacity was arrested on a charge of assisting a priest to leave Czechoslovakia. The Czechoslovak Government have rejected repeated representations by H.M. Ambassador at Prague on the grounds that Dr. Pinkas is still a Czechoslovak citizen.
  2. 2. On 13th December. 1951, Mr. R. Gardner, Second Secretary at H.M. Embassy in Prague was detained and accused of espionage by the Czechoslovak authorities. The recall of Mr. Gardner to the United Kingdom was demanded by the Czechoslovak authorities. H.M. Embassy rejected the charges and protested against the treatment to which Mr. Gardner had been subjected.
  3. 3. On 30th August, 1952, Mr. J. A. Happs, a Clerk on the staff of the Military Attaché at H.M. Embassy in Prague, was detained and interrogated by Czechoslovak officials. A protest was lodged to which no reply has yet been received. Mr. Happs has since left Czechoslovakia.

Hungary

  1. 1. Mr. Eborall, Mr. Smith and Mr. Jenkins (First Secretary and Third Secretaries at H M. Legation) were declared personae non gratae on 18th May, 1950, and were requested to leave Hungary on or before 23rd May, 1950. H.M. Minister protested against the imposition of so short a time limit; no extension of the time limit was granted.
  2. 2. On 6th July, 1951, an order requiring her to leave Budapest was served on Mrs. Vago, a British subject resident in Hungary. As the 173 result of representations by H.M. Minister, Mrs. Vago was not deported to the provinces but was permitted to leave Hungary.

Paland On 6th May, 1952, three Officers of the M.V. "Baltavia," Mr. A. Sparks, Mr. R. Sherwood and Mr. R. Parkin, were detained by the Polish authorities in the Port of Gdynia, allegedly for lowering a boat without permission. They were subjected to humiliating treatment and released two days later. Requests for an explanation made by H.M. Embassy at Warsaw elicited assurances that those responsible for the treatment had been punished.

Roumania

  1. 1. On 1st July, 1950, Wing Commander Brittain, Air Attaché at H.M. Legation in Bucharest and Mrs. Brittain were forcibly ejected from their mountain villa at Predeal, by the local authorities. H.M. Minister protested on 3rd July. The Roumanian Government refused to give any satisfaction.
  2. 2. On 5th July, 1950, Mr. R. A. I. King, Third Secretary at H.M. Legation at Bucharest was detained by the Roumanian Security Police. H.M. Minister protested to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. No satisfactory explanation was received and Mr. King was subsequently declared persona non grata and was withdrawn.
  3. 3. On 2nd November, 1950, Mr. W. H. Birch, a Clerk at H.M. Legation at Bucharest, was detained and subsequently released by the Roumanian police. H.M. Minister protested but the Roumanian authorities refused to give any satisfactory explanation.

Bulgaria Mrs. Lee, the Bulgarian-born wife of a former employee of the British Council in Sofia was refused permission to leave Bulgaria on the ground that she was a Bulgarian citizen. After repeated representations by H.M. Minister in Sofia, on 25th January, 1951, Mrs. Lee was granted a Bulgarian émigré passport. She arrived in the United Kingdom in July, 1951.