§ 19. Mr. Keelingasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the U.S.S.R. carried out its undertaking, under the Treaty of Peace with Bulgaria, to withdraw all troops from Bulgaria by 14th December; and under the Treaties of Peace with Roumania and Hungary, to reduce its forces in those countries by 14th December to the strength necessary to guard the Soviet lines of communication with Austria.
Mr. McNeilHis Majesty's Government have received formal notification from the Soviet Government that, in accordance with the Peace Treaties, the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Bulgaria was completed on 14th December, and that, on that date, there remained in Roumania and Hungary only those units of the 192 Soviet forces necessary for the maintenance of lines of communication with the Soviet zone of Austria.
§ Mr. KeelingCan the Government con firm these statements from their own knowledge?
§ 20. Major Tufton Beamishasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the present strength of the Roumanian Army, Navy, Air Force, labour battalions in receipt of any form of military training or under military discipline, the Siguranza Generale, and any other military or semi-military units, showing each separately; whether His Majesty's Government has full details of the training and equipment of all such units and formations; and what relation the strength of the Roumanian armed forces, both military and semi-military, bears to the strengths laid down in the Peace Treaty.
Mr. McNeilOur estimates of the present strength of Roumanian military and semi-military units and organisations are as follow: Army and Frontier Guards, 120,000; Navy, 4,800; Air Force and antiaircraft defence, 13,000; Gendarmerie, 30,000; Police, 15,000. There are no organised labour battalions. The Rumanian Government were asked in November and December for details of strengths, training and equipment, but have not yet furnished the required information. The sizes of the Army, Frontier Guards, Navy, Air Force and anti-aircraft artillery appear to be in the neighbourhood of the limits prescribed in Article 11 of the Peace Treaty. Under Article 12 the Roumanian Government have until 15th March in which to reduce their armed forces to the stipulated limits.
§ Major BeamishWhen studying these figures, would the Minister bear in mind that the Eastern European countries' police forces, and the secret police forces, are invariably better trained and equipped than the military personnel in their armies?
Mr. McNeilWhile I have no figures of the secret police—if there are such—the figures which I am offered are approximately in conformity with those agreed upon in the Treaty.
§ 21. Major Beamishasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the present strength of the Hungarian Army, Navy, Air Force, labour battalions in receipt of any form of military training or under military discipline, police in receipt of military training, including the secret police, and any other military or semi-military units, showing each separately; whether His Majesty's Government has full details of the training and equipment of all such units and formations; and what relation the strength of the Hungarian armed forces, both military and semi-military, bears to the strengths laid down in the Peace Treaty.
Mr. McNeilOur estimates of the present strength of Hungarian military and semi-military units and organisations are as follow: Army and frontier guards, 13,000; Navy, nil; Air Force, 300 (with no aircraft). There are no labour battalions and no other military or semi-military units. We have no information about the numbers of Secret Police. The Hungarian Government were asked on 20th December for details of strengths, training and equipment, but have not yet furnished the information. His Majesty's Government are satisfied that the present strength of the Hungarian armed forces is within the limits prescribed in Article 12 of the Peace Treaty, to which the Hungarian Government are obliged, by Article 13, to conform by 15th March, 1948.
§ Major BeamishMay I ask how the Minister proposes to obtain this information which this ex-enemy country has not provided, as it should have done?
§ 22. Major Beamishasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is satisfied that the British representatives in Bulgaria, Roumania and Hungary have adequate powers of inspection in order to ensure that the size, training and equipment of the armed forces of these countries are in accordance with the terms of the Peace Treaties; whether these powers of inspection include the right to visit and inspect factories that may be producing war material banned by the Peace Treaties; and what advantage has been taken of these powers.
Mr. McNeilThe adequacy of the powers of inspection conferred upon His Majesty's representatives in the countries concerned, by the military and final Clauses of the Peace Treaties will largely depend upon the degree of co-operation afforded by the signatories. The right of inspection including the particular case mentioned in the second part of the Question is covered by Articles 35 (3) of the Treaty with Bulgaria and corresponding Articles in the other two Treaties. His Majesty's Government attach great importance to the proper implementation of Treaties, and although this right of inspection has not yet been invoked, they are giving consideration to its detailed application.