§ 9. Mr. C. WHITEasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information as to the quantity of arms and ammunition at present in Hungary?
Mr. HARMSWORTHI am informed that the quantity of arms and ammunition at present in Hungary is not considerable. It will be the function of the Military Mission of Control, set up under the Treaty, to keep Hungary's armament down to the scale fixed by the Treaty.
§ 10. Sir THOMAS BRAMSDONasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has now ascertained from our representative at Budapest the number of men under arms in Hungary?
Mr. HARMSWORTHYes, Sir. In my answer to the hon. and gallant Member for Central Hull (Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy) on the 2nd November, I stated that the present forces in Hungary number about 36,000. According to reports since furnished by the Allied generals at Budapest, the number of the National Army does not greatly exceed the 35,000 men authorised by the Peace Treaty. There is an armed police force of 20,000 men.
§ Sir T. BRAMSDONMay I ask the hon. Gentleman if we are to understand from his answer that that includes all the trained men who are in possession of arms, and who would at any moment be drafted in to increase the total of the forces?
§ Sir T. BRAMSDONCan the hon. Gentleman give any information about that?
Mr. HARMSWORTHIt is supposed that there is a sufficient number of armed men to fill out the Hungarian army to about 100,000, but according to our information they would lack much of the necessary matériel of war.
§ Sir T. BRAMSDONDoes that include the police?
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYMay I ask what steps are being taken to reduce the Hungarian Army in accordance with the Peace Treaty?
Mr. HARMSWORTHMy hon. and gallant Friend knows that until the Hungarian Peace Treaty has become effective the Military Commission of Control cannot be set up.