§ 38. Lieut.-Colonel Schofieldasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the present position in connection with his representations to the United States Government as to the life imprisonment of Mrs. Brillhart, a British citizen of Rochdale, Lancashire, who was sentenced in 1954 by a United States court-martial in Eritrea; and whether, in view of the recent decision by Federal Judge Edward Tamm who has ordered the release on bail of another wife sentenced by a United States court-martial for murder on the grounds that the United States code of 202W military law cannot be applied to civilians accompanying armed forces overseas, he will request that similar treatment should now be considered in the case of Mrs. Brillhart.
§ Lord John HopeNo representations have been made to the United States Government in this case since the question of further action through judicial channels is still under consideration. The decision of Federal Judge Tamm followed one by the United States Supreme Court of 7th November, 1955, in the case of a civilian who was tried by court-martial for a crime committed whilst he was in the United States Air Force. I am informed that in the light of the above decisions negotiations are proceeding to brief an American lawyer to apply for the release of Mrs. Brillhart on a writ ofhabeas corpus.