§ 46. Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that a number of former ministers of the late Soviet Government in Hungary are being tried on charges of murder and forgery by the present Hungarian Government; that every member of the former Soviet Government is charged with murder in 200 cases, which is the number of persons said to have been killed or executed under the Soviet Government: that they are charged with forgery for printing paper money; that some of these Ministers only held purely technical and scientific posts and had no say in general policy; and whether His Majesty's Government will take any steps to save the lives of these men?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI have no information concerning the alleged particulars, but I have asked His Majesty's High Commissioner at Budapest for a report.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIn connection with this inquiry can it be made clear to Admiral Horthy that we do not question his integrity in the matter, but that it is M. Friedrichs who is the danger point so far as the Hungarian White terror is concerned?
§ Captain REDMONDMay I ask when the hon. and gallant Gentleman took the office of Prime Minister
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI do not propose to answer the second question. The hon. and gallant Member knows the custom of this Front Bench. With reference to the supplementary question put by the hon. and gallant Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Colonel Wedgwood) having asked the High Commissioner for a Report, it is not possible to tell him what to say and how to say it.
Lieut.-Colonel MURRAYIs it not clear that this question is one for the Foreign Secretary and not for the Prime Minister?