§ 47. Mr. G. R. Howardasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the circumstances in which a British girl, Mrs. Mary Castles, was shot near Titov Veles in Southern Yugoslavia.
§ Mr. George ThomsonWhilst travelling by car in Yugoslavia on 19th March, Mr. and Mrs. Castles, accompanied by two other British tourists, turned off the main Skopje-Titov Veles road to camp and without being aware of it approached a military installation. After hearing shouts, they turned their car round and headed back towards the main road thinking they might have trespassed. A number of shots were then fired and Mrs. Castles was unfortunately wounded. She is now recovering in this country.
When Her Majesty's Ambassador in Belgrade called on the Yugoslav Ministry of Foreign Affairs they expressed their deep regret and said that immediately on receipt of the news of this incident instructions had been issued that all possible medical help should be given urgently. Her Majesty's Consul went to Skopje to investigate the circumstances.
127WThe Yugoslav military authorities subsequently agreed, without admitting liability, to pay all hospital, hotel and incidental expenses and the return fare of Mr. and Mrs. Castles.