§ 85. Mr. Gowerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement about the seizure by Chinese troops of members of the Welsh Himalayan Expedition; and what representa- 170W tions have been made to the Chinese Government.
§ Mr. P. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what news he has of the two members of the Welsh mountaineering expedition to the Himalayas who have been seized by Chinese troops on the Tibetan border and taken to Taklakot, inside Tibet; and whether he will make urgent representations to the Chinese Government to secure the immediate release of these men.
§ Mr. TurtonAccording to a report received in New Delhi on 22nd November, Mr. Wignall (the leader of the Welsh Himalayan Expedition) and Mr. Harrop, together with an official Nepalese liaison officer attached to the expedition, were arrested on 22nd October, by Chinese frontier guards, who presumably thought that they had crossed the Tibetan border. According to an unofficial report the three men were taken to Taklakot and are being well treated.
Her Majesty's Ambassador at Katmandu and Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Peking have been instructed to ask the respective authorities for information about the party.