§ 25. Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Prime Minister whether he has yet received any information as to the trial of former ministers of the late Soviet Government in Hungary on charges of murder and forgery: whether 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; whether they are charged with forgery for printing paper money; whether he is aware 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?
§ The ADDITIONAL PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Lieut.-Colonel Sir Hamar Greenwood)As stated in my reply to the hon. and gallant Member on the 10th instant, enquiries have been made of His Majesty's High Commissioner at Budapest whose Report has not yet been received.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODHas the hon. and gallant Member any idea when this report will be received, or can he make particular enquiries as to a particular friend of mine, Kalmar?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI must have notice of that question.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIs he not aware that this question has been on the Paper for over a fortnight, and surely we can have some idea as to when the reply will be received from Mr. Hohler as to this matter?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODMr. Hohler was asked by wire to send in a report. As soon as the report is available the facts contained in it, if a subsequent question is put down, could be stated, in the discretion of the Foreign Office. In the meantime I could not possibly promise to make enquiries about an unknown man, although he is a friend of the hon. and gallant Member.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIs the hon. Member aware that, although he may be unknown to him, he is very well known?
§ Mr. SPEAKERCannot the hon. and gallant Member put a question down?
§ Colonel WEDGWOODI beg to give notice that I will repeat the question on this day week.
Sir J. D. REESDid not the hon. and gallant Gentleman representing the Foreign Office inform me that the British Government had no concern with homicide in Hungary?