§ 48. Mr. R. RICHARDSONasked the Prime Minister whether any steps are being taken to prevent the execution of the Hungarians who had served as commissaries under the Soviet Government of Hungary, and who remained in Hungary after the fall of that Government on the assurance from Allied representatives that they would be protected?
Mr. HARMSWORTHIt is no part of the duties of His Majesty's Government to interfere in the conduct of judicial proceedings in foreign countries, and I would earnestly deprecate the attempt to impose on His Majesty's Government responsibilities in such matters which they have neither the desire nor the power to assume. The hon. Member is aware that His Majesty's Representative at Budapest has instructions to watch carefully proceedings in political trials in Hungary, and that more than one occasion has been taken to impress on the Hungarian Government in a friendly way the importance of proceeding with proper moderation.
§ Mr. RICHARDSONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is because of an arrangement at which Sir Charles Cunningham was present that these people stayed in Hungary and that it was agreed that all political prosecutions from either right or left should cease?
Mr. HARMSWORTHNo actual undertaking was given by His Majesty's High Commissioner or on behalf of the Allies, but representatives in a friendly way have had a very useful effect on more than one occasion.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYWas not a very specific promise given by the representatives of the government in 220 Hungary that these people should be safeguarded?
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYAnother scrap of paper.