HC Deb 11 November 1968 vol 773 cc46-8W
Mr. Newens

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what communications his Department received on 29th July 1968 and on subsequent days from the hon. Member for Epping concerning the whereabouts of Senor Antonio Arguedas, who was in Great Britain at that time; and what action he took.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

My hon. Friend spoke to my hon. Friend the then Undersecretary of State on 29th July, and wrote to him on the same day. A reply was sent to my hon. Friend the Member for Epping (Mr. Newens) on 2nd August.

Mr. Newens

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will obtain a report from the police about the circumstances in which Senor A. Arguedas entered the country under the escort of Senor N. Leondiras, an employee of the United States Central Intelligence Agency, and was, against his will, detained and interrogated by Senor Leondiras in London.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

My information does not support the suggestion that Senor Arguedas arrived here under the escort of Mr. Leondiris, or that Senor Arguedas was, against his will, detained and interrogated while in this country.

Mr. Newens

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that Senor Antonio Arguedas, former Bolivian Minister of the Interior, was registered at the Richmond Hill Hotel, Richmond Hill, under a false name; and whether he will have this matter investigated by the Metropolitan Police.

Mr. A. Royle

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will obtain from the police a report as to why Senor Antonio Arguedas, former Bolivian Minister of the Interior, registered at the Richmond Hill Hotel under the false name of Antonio Perez, Passport No. XA 9320 00 46, from 29th July, 1968, until 2nd August, 1968, accompanied by Mr. Petrelli Suarez, Passport No. XB 7981 833.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

I am making inquiries and will write to the hon. Members.

Mr. Newens

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will inquire into the circumstances under which Senor Antonio Arguedas, the former Bolivian Minister of the Interior, was admitted to this country on 27th July without being personally interviewed but solely on the recommendation of his escorts and was initially prevented from freely communicating with the officials of the Home Office for a number of days by these escorts.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

It is not the case that Senor Arguedas was admitted to the United Kingdom without examination by an immigration officer. Nor, to my knowledge, was he prevented from communicating with Home Office officials. He called at the Home Office for interview on 30th July.

Mr. Newens

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will obtain from the Commissioner of Police a report on the circumstances in which the room hired by Senor Faevich, the lawyer of Senor Antonio Arguedas, at the Hilton Hotel, London, was illegally entered and searched by unauthorised persons between 30th July and 2nd August of this year.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

I am informed that neither the police nor the hotel mentioned have any knowledge of such an incident.