Bidault Not Allowed To Stay In Portugal

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30093, 29 March 1963, Page 11

Bidault Not Allowed To Stay In Portugal

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) LISBON, March 27. The anti'Gaullist leader, Mr Georges Bidault, would be sent back to West Germany only if he had nowhere else to go, a Portuguese Foreign Ministry spokesman said tonight, the British United Press reported.

The spokesman said Mr Bidault would have to leave Portugal. He had become “persona non grata” because he entered the country under an assumed name.

Mr Bidault was free to choose any destination outside Portugal that suited him, said the spokesman.

Police took Mr Bidault from a modest boarding house today after he had been discovered sheltering there with his secretary. Previously, he had flown out of West Germany after Bavarian authorities offered him asylum only if he gave up his political activities.

The British United Press said Mr Bidault was still at police headquarters in Lisbon tonight after being invited there at 10 a.m. The British United Press said it was believed Mr Bidault was passing through Portugal and was in fact, on his way to South America. Uruguay had been mentioned as a possible destination.

In Montevideo today, the Uruguayan Foreign Minister (Mr Lejandro Zorrila de San Martin) said Mr Bidualt had not formally applied for political asylum. If an application was received it would be treated like any other. Another report, however, said Mr Bidault was planning to go to Brazil. In Canberra, the Australian Prime Minister (Sir Robert Menzies) said today

he would repeat his Government’s action on the Bidault television interview if the decision could be effective. “This interview should never have been made,” he told the House of Representatives during a debate on the television ban. “As an unfriendly act towards a friendly power, I can hardly think of anything more stupid and offensive.”

The Government first banned the showing of the 8.8. C. interview with Mr Bidault, then later relaxed its’ prohibition on the grounds that it was unable to take similar action against newspapers and cinemas. Mr A. D. Fraser (Labour, New South Wales) said thait by first banning the showing of the film, then releasing it. the Government had made a fool of itself.

The House was packed as members heard Sir Robert Menzies strongly defend the Government’s action on the television screening of the film in Australia. He was speaking on an Opposition urgency motion criticising the Government’s attitude in the matter.

“At the time of this interview this man was wanted for a capital offence—treason

against the French Government,” he said. “I do not agree that he was a brokendown old man. He was full of self-satisfaction, leering at his audience. “This man was wanted as the head of an organisation that has already made unsuccessful. but violent, attempts to assassinate the French leader, General de Gaulle. This interview could give Bidault nothing but publicity, and a certain amount of prestige.” The Prime Minister said: “We are not only an ally of France, but associated with this country in S.E.A.TO. Any directive given to the A.B.C. was proper on a matter which concerned Australia’s relationship with a friendly Power.” Sir Robert Menzies said he had no apology to make for lifting the ban when it was found to be futile and discriminatory. Mr Fraser said the issue was whether the Government should have exercised power to prevent publicity of the interview because it disapproved of it. Censorship was the most powerful weapon in a political tyranny.