Oral Answers to Questions — Transport. – in the House of Commons at on 24 January 1940.
Mr Herbert Morrison
, Hackney South
asked the Prime Minister what steps were taken by, or on behalf of His Majesty's Government to facilitate the return of Miss Unity Mitford to this country; and on whose authority was both military and police protection provided for her at the port of arrival?
Mr Neville Chamberlain
, Birmingham, Edgbaston
The answer to the first part of the Question is that no such steps were taken on behalf of His Majesty's Government. As regards the second part of the Question, I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answers given to similar Questions yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Home Affairs and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War.
Mr Herbert Morrison
, Hackney South
Are we to understand from the answer that the Government took no steps whatever to facilitate the return of this young lady to this country after she had been assisting an enemy Government?
Mr Neville Chamberlain
, Birmingham, Edgbaston
No steps were taken by the Government in connection with this case other than those which are taken in ordinary circumstances for other British subjects.
Mr Herbert Morrison
, Hackney South
Will the Prime Minister inform us whether that means that the Government did make efforts to facilitate the return of a British subject who had been openly assisting the cause of an enemy Government?
Mr Neville Chamberlain
, Birmingham, Edgbaston
The only action taken by the Foreign Office on Miss Mitford's behalf was the inclusion of her name in a list of British subjects in Germany for whom the United States Embassy were requested to do whatever might be possible, and the sending of a telegraphic inquiry about her health through the agency of the United States Embassy. Such inquiries have been made in respect of British subjects on several occasions when they have appeared to be justified by the urgency of the case.
Mr Herbert Morrison
, Hackney South
As it is now apparent that His Majesty's Government did take steps, may I ask the Prime Minister why he did not tell me so in the first instance? May I also ask him why the Government should take steps to facilitate the return of a British subject who would be much better occupied in continuing the activities she was engaged on in assisting an enemy Government? Finally, will the right hon. Gentleman tell me what would have been done if this had been a working-class person?
Mrs Mavis Tate
, Frome
May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is prepared to support the expulsion from this country of Communists because they are helping an enemy Government?
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
