§ 77. Mr. de Freitasasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason he prevented foreigners from entering this country to take part in a conference, held last month, sponsored by an organisation called "Teachers for Peace."
§ 88. Mr. A. J. Irvineasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why certain visitors from France, desiring to spend a holiday in this country, were refused permission to land in Great Britain when it became known that they intended, during part of their stay, to attend a conference organised by the National Committee of Teachers for Peace, taking place in London on 29th and 30th December, 1953.
§ Sir D. Maxwell FyfeI have made it plain to the House more than once that I am not prepared to admit foreigners to attend meetings organised by bodies which, under the guise of some harmless name intended to deceive the public as to their aims, are instruments of Communist propaganda. I am satisfied that "Teachers for Peace" is in this category, however unconscious of it some of its members may be, and accordingly foreigners known to be coming to attend the conference which it organised on 29th and 30th December were excluded from the United Kingdom.
§ 78. Mr. Doddsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long Dr. Paul Oesterich, a German delegate to the Teachers for Peace Conference in London, was detained by his officers in a room at London Airport; and how much he was charged to meet the cost of his detention.
§ Sir D. Maxwell FyfeDr. Oestereich, who arrived at London Airport at 6.50 p.m. on 27th December last was, after having been refused leave to land, detained overnight in the detention room at London Airport because there was no flight back to Hamburg that night. He left by the 10.30 a.m. flight next day.182W Under the Aliens Order, 1920 (as amended) is it the responsibility of the carrying company (in this case British European Airways) to convey a foreigner who has been refused leave to land back to the country from which he came, and, at the request of the Immigration Officer, to detain the foreigner pending his removal. I understand that British European Airways charged Dr. Oestereich £8 10s. to cover their expenses.
§ 90. Mr. Footasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons wishing to attend the recent Teachers for Peace Conference in London were prevented from entering this country; from what countries they came; and what was the reason for the exclusion.
§ Sir D. Maxwell FyfeSeven Belgians, four French nationals and two Germans who sought to enter this country to attend the conference were refused leave to land. I have explained the reason for this decision in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Lincoln (Mr. de Freitas).