§ Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take up the question of Rudolf Hess's release from Spandau Prison and make a joint approach to the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics along with the French and American Governments, to the effect that the 82-year-old Hess be released on humanitarian grounds.
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§ Mr. TomlinsonThe Soviet Government have been left in no doubt that it is Her Majesty's Government's view that Hess should be released. Unfortunately, there is no reason to believe that the negative attitude of the Soviet Government has changed since the representations made to them on this subject by the British, French and American Government's a year ago, and by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the Soviet Foreign Minister last March.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics to the effect that Rudolf Hess be released from Spandau Prison on humanitarian grounds.
§ Mr. TomlinsonMy right hon. Friend the then Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs made representations to the Soviet Ambassador in favour of Hess's release on 29th October last year, and my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister raised the question again with the Soviet Foreign Minister, Mr. Gromyko, in March this year. Regrettably, the Soviet response was totally negative in each case.