§ 3. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether there is a British representative at Buda Pesth; if not, whether any representative is on the way; whether there is any British representative with the Roumanian Army before Buda Pesth; and whether it is intended to recognise and treat with the present Hungarian Government?
Mr. HARMSWORTHGeneral Gorton has been appointed British Military Representative at Buda Pesth, where he now is as one of an Inter-Allied Commission of four generals appointed by the Peace Conference.
I have no information whether there is any British representative with the Roumanian Army before Buda Pesth, but General Greenly, who is the head of the Special Military Mission to the King of Roumania, will doubtless detail an officer for the purpose if he considers it necessary.
The position is still too uncertain for me to give any definite reply to the last part of the question, and, in any case, the decision will be taken by the Allied Representatives in Paris, who are actively considering the situation.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYCan he assure me that all steps will be taken by our military representative to stop any thing in the nature of a White Terror in Buda Pesth, and have instructions been given to that effect?
§ Colonel WEDGWOODCannot representations be made to General Gorton that a White Terror would be most disadvantageous at the present time?
§ Colonel WEDGWOODWe have had enough Red Terrors without having any White Terrors.
§ Mr. A. SHAW(by Private Notice) asked the Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether it is a fact that Roumanian troops have disregarded a request contained in the telegram from M. Clemenceau and are now in occupation of Buda Pesth; whether there is any truth in the report that excesses are being committed by the troops in the city, and what steps are being taken to regularise the situation?
Mr. HARMSWORTHIt is not correct to say that the Roumanian troops have disregarded M. Clemenceau's request. The facts are as follow:
On 13th June telegrams were sent to the Government of Bela Kun and to the Czecho-Slovak and Roumanian Governments, laying down certain frontiers behind which the two latter Armies were requested to withdraw as soon as the Hungarian Government had complied with the terms of the Armistice. The Hungarian Government under Bela Kun did not fulfil their part of the covenant, and thus the proposals lapsed, especially in view of the fact that the Hungarian troops attacked the Roumanian Army.
The Roumanian troops have now entered Buda Pesth, but we have no official information as to a formal occupation of the city.
I am not aware what truth there may be in the reports of excesses committed by the Roumanian troops. Our information is to the effect that they have observed good order, and I hesitate to express any opinion on this point until I am in receipt of further information. An Inter-Allied Military Mission has been sent to Buda Pesth and is believed to have entered the city.