§ 32. Mr. ROBERT RICHARDSONasked the Prime Minister what was the first date after the Roumanian occupation of Budapesth on which the Allies requested the Roumanian Government to withdraw 622 its troops from territory assigned to Hungary; how many similar requests have been made since then; how many Roumanian troops have still to be withdrawn; and whether he is satisfied that shortage of transport is an adequate reason for further delay?
§ The PRIME MINISTERSince the occupation of Budapesth by the Roumanian Army last August, the Supreme Council have called the attention of the Roumanian Government repeatedly to the urgent need for evacuating Hungarian territory at the earliest possible moment. It is impossible to state exactly how many requests have been addressed to this effect to the Roumanian Government, since the matter has formed part of complicated and, for some periods, continuous negotiations. In these negotiations the Supreme Council have found the Roumanian Prime Minister, M. Vaida-Voovod, most anxious to carry out their decisions, and with his full approval, an Inter-Allied mission of military experts is being sent to the spot, to report on the progress of the evacuation and to hasten its completion. Pending the report of this mission I cannot usefully make any statement concerning the numbers involved or the cause of the delay.
§ 34. Mr. D. GRAHAMasked the Prime Minister what is the estimated value of the property of all kinds removed from Hungary by the Roumanians during their occupation,; and whether the Allies will insist on compensation being paid by Roumania for the robbery and damage inflicted by her troops during the occupation of Hungary?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe first part of the question raised by my hon. Friend is one which comes within the purview of the Reparation Commission which has despatched a Sub-committee to Budapest; no answer could be given to the second part of the question without prejudging the result of the Reparation Commission's enquiries.