§ 76. Mr. Thorpeasked the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs what information he has, following the visit by Her Majesty's Consul at Capetown to Mr. 184W Alan Brooks, a British subject, in a prison in Capetown on 18th August, 1964, on Mr. Brooks' case.
§ Mr. George ThomsonMr. Alan Brooks, a citizen of the United Kingdom and of Southern Rhodesia, was detained at Cape Town on 22nd July under the General Law Amendment Act, 1963. He was charged with conspiracy to commit sabotage and with contravening the Suppression of Communism Act of 1950. At his trial in November he was sentenced to four years imprisonment, two years of which were conditionally suspended.
Our Consul at Cape Town visited Mr. Brooks on 23rd July, but was not permitted to see him again until 18th August, when he complained of ill-treatment during interrogation by the police. Her Majesty's Ambassador made representations to the South African Government asking that the complaint should be investigated.
On 17th November, the Department for Foreign Affairs informed the Ambassador that, after thorough consideration of Mr. Brooks' complaint, the Attorney-General had declined to prosecute for the alleged offence, but observed that Mr. Brooks was free to institute a private prosecution. Mr. Brooks' solicitors are now proceeding against the Minister of Justice and others. Consular officers have visited Mr. Brooks several times and his lawyer has had access to him since the 6th of October, when he was charged.
On 17th December, acting on instructions, our Ambassador delivered a Note seeking an assurance from the South African Government that British subjects held in the custody of the South African authorities will not be subjected to ill-treatment.
The Embassy has left the South African authorities in no doubt that Her Majesty's Government take a serious view of this matter. The Government have reserved all rights in the matter pending the proceedings in court.