HC Deb 26 November 1962 vol 668 cc8-9W
64. Mr. A. Henderson

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will make a further statement on the detention of Mr. Wynne.

Mr. P. Thomas

In my replies to Questions on this subject on 19th November, I undertook that Her Majesty's Government would continue to press the Hungarian Government and the Soviet Government for information about Mr. Wynne and for facilities to visit him. Strong representations were accordingly made to the Soviet Government by Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires in Moscow on 21st November, and on 23rd November Her Majesty's Minister at Budapest saw the Hungarian Deputy Foreign Minister. In this interview Her Majesty's Minister stressed the extremely serious view which Her Majesty's Government take of the manner of Mr. Wynne's detention, which had then lasted a full three weeks. He asked for replies to a number of questions previously submitted. These concerned the whereabouts of Mr. Wynne, the date on which he was handed over to the Soviet authorities, the date and place at which extradition procedures were carried out, whether he had appeared before a Hungarian court, what had been done with his car and other property in Hungary and where Her Majesty's Consul might deliver a letter from Mrs. Wynne to her husband, which had been received at the Legation. The Deputy Foreign Minister stated that he was unable to answer any of these questions, and that investigations were still continuing. A reply from the Soviet Government is also still outstanding. Her Majesty's Representatives in both capitals are therefore continuing their representations.