HC Deb 15 March 1920 vol 126 cc1807-8
59. Mr. ADAMSON

asked the Prime Minister whether, in July, 1919, the preliminary arrangements for the resignation of the Communist Government of Hungary were made in Vienna between the representatives of the Allied Powers on the one side and Messrs. Agoston, Bohm, Peyer, and Weltner on the other; whether these negotiations, which resulted in the surrender of power by Bela Kun and his Communist colleagues, included the undertaking that all political persecutions coming from either the right or the left side must be immediately stopped; whether this undertaking has been violated by the Government of M. Huszar; whether certain of the ex-ministers who negotiated this resignation are now themselves accused on capital charges, most of the officials of the Soviet Government exposed to these reprisals, and many persons suspected of political tendencies opposed to those of the present Government interned without charge or trial; and whether he will instruct the representatives of His Majesty in Budapest to insist on the terms of this arrangement that all political persecutions shall immediately cease.

Sir H. GREENWOOD

In July, 1919, certain preliminary arrangements were made as described in the first part of the question. In the course of negotiations various undertakings to avoid all political persecution were given by both sides. Since Mr. Huszar's Government was not then in power, the answer to the third part of the question is in the negative.

With regard to the rest of the question, reports received from Budapest indicate that certain officials of the Communist Government have been tried and found guilty and executed on charges of criminal proceedings during their tenure of office, but I have no information to the effect that many persons suspected of political tendencies opposed to those of the present Government have been interned without charge or trial.

With regard to the last part of the question, His Majesty's High Commissioner at Budapest has been instructed to do what he possibly can to prevent anything in the nature of a political persecution, but he has expressed himself as entirely satisfied that the persons accused have been granted a fair trial. It is obviously not possible for His Majesty's Government to interfere systematically in the internal polities of Hungary.