§ 113. Mr. Thomas Reidasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps he proposes to take in respect 40 to the Rumanian elections which were neither free nor fair.
§ Mr. MayhewThe information at the disposal of His Majesty's Government leaves me no alternative but to agree with my hon. Friend that the elections were neither free nor fair. During the election campaign parties other than those comprising the Government Bloc did not enjoy full freedom of speech or association. The arrangements on polling day itself were moreover such as to permit wholesale falsification of the results and full advantage was taken of this by the Government authorities. In these circumstances His Majesty's Government consider that the results of the Rumanian elections do not truly represent the opinion of the Rumanian people.
§ Mr. PrittHas the Under-Secretary, or any other hon. or right hon. Gentleman of his Department, considered the unanimous opinion of newspaper correspondents who were present at the election, saying they were quite satisfied with the conduct on polling day; and is this just another instance of stories from reactionary circles in Rumania being peddled to the British Minister?
§ Mr. MayhewThe newspaper correspondents may have been unanimous, but they were not representative.
§ Mr. SolleyWould my hon. Friend say whether it is true or not that His Majesty's Government opened a bureau in Bucharest, outside which there was writing to the effect that anybody who had any complaints, and only complaints, to make in respect of these elections could come and make them; and if that was done, was it in accordance with constitutional and diplomatic practice?
§ Mr. MayhewWith notice I would be glad to go into the details of the methods used of getting information, but I could not say offhand.
§ Mr. GallacherWere not these elections in Rumania much freer and fairer than recent elections held in America? Will my hon. Friend tell us how many millions in America were refused the vote?
§ Mr. SpeakerThat is quite another question.
§ Mr. MayhewI am afraid I am not prepared to make a statement now.