HC Deb 17 June 1953 vol 516 c59W
Mr. Garner Evans

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what arrangements were made by Her Majesty's Embassy in Katmandu for the transmission of messages from the Everest expedition to "The Times" newspaper.

Mr. Nutting

Her Majesty's Ambassador was instructed to accept any reasonably short message about the final ascent of Everest from any correspondent without discrimination. The first news received at Her Majesty's Embassy was contained in a message which Her Majesty's Ambassador was requested to pass to "The Times" and to the Himalayan Committee. This was done.

Two messages were also passed by Her Majesty's Ambassador for the "Daily Telegraph." These were transmitted immediately upon their receipt by Her Majesty's Ambassador in Katmandu. If other correspondents had asked for similar facilities they would have been granted.

Mr. Garner Evans

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why Her Majesty's Ambassador at Katmandu withheld the news of the conquest of Everest from the King of Nepal.

Mr. Nutting

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave today to my hon. Friend the Member for Lancaster (Mr. F. Maclean).