§ Mr. Lennox-Boydasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth. Affairs whether Lieutenant Commander Alfredo Astiz has left the United Kingdom; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. OnslowLieutenant Commander Astiz left the country for Rio do Janeiro on 10 June. The protecting power, Brazil, had agreed to make the necessary arrangements for his repatriation to Argentina. Her Majesty's Government decided to repatriate him because no useful purpose would have been served by keeping him further in this country. The United Kingdom had no jurisdiction to try him for any of his alleged offences, which were not committed on British territory. Nor could Astiz have been extradited under the United Kingdom's bilateral agreements with France and Sweden. He was treated fully in accordance with the third Geneva convention and was visited several times by Red Cross representatives.
Certain questions were put to Astiz on behalf of the French and Swedish Governments, who will be given a detailed report as soon as possible.