asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why there was delay in granting visas to the delegates of the Polish Social Democratic Party desiring to attend the meetings of the Committee of the International Socialist Conference in London on 20th March, 1948; and who was responsible.

I am informed that although the invitations to attend this Conference were issued in January the Polish delegates did not apply to the British Passport Control Officer, Warsaw, for their visas until 15th March. The applications reached the Home Office on the 16th, approval was given on the 18th but the telegram despatched from London that day did not reach Warsaw until the 19th. I regret that there was a delay of two days in the Home Office, and appropriate instructions have been issued to the officers concerned.