§ 3. Mr. CHARLES EDWARDSasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Government formed under M. Huszar in Hungary, with the aid and by the intervention of Sir G. Clerk and the recognition of the Supreme 1993 Council, has the approval of His Majesty's Government in proceeding against employés and officials of the late Communist Government; whether in so doing the Hungarian Courts assume that any action of that Government was illegal and consequently that punishments and expropriations inflicted by that Government were criminal acts which expose its agents to charges of murder, embezzlement, and the like; and whether he will instruct the representatives of His Britannic Majesty in Hungary to mitigate the application of this legal theory and to represent to M. Huszar's Government the advantages of clemency and moderation?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODHis Majesty s Government do not control the policy of the Hungarian Government in regard to internal affairs. They have no information to show that the Hungarian Government have adopted the general principle indicated in the second part of the question.
His Majesty's High Commissioner in Budapest has reported that the trials of communists which have so far taken place have been conducted fairly and in due legal form, and there is no reason to anticipate that the Hungarian Government will alter their practice in this respect.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYCan the hon. and gallant Gentleman assure the House that our representatives are throwing their weight on the side of humanity in this case?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI can assure the House that His Majesty's representative has been instructed to use his influence to moderate the animosities that naturally arise in a country now going through the state that Hungary is going through.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYThank you.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODWill the hon. and gallant Gentleman consider the possibility of our representative in Buda Pesth visiting the internment camps?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI must have notice of new questions.