HC Deb 19 January 1949 vol 460 cc154-5
31. Commander Noble

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that a British student holding a year's Hungarian Government scholarship was summarily told to leave Hungary after only six weeks in the country, without any reasons being given; and what action he has taken in this matter.

Mr. McNeil

Yes, Sir. It is, of course, within the rights of the Hungarian Government to expel any foreigner from their country and there seems, therefore, to be no legal ground for an official protest. My right hon. Friend nevertheless deplores their arbitrary expulsion, at the shortest notice, without specifying a reason, of a British student to whom they had just awarded a State Scholarship for one year.

Commander Noble

Does the Minister's answer mean that His Majesty's representatives in Budapest made no inquiries or protests when this was reported to them by the student?

Mr. McNeil

Inquiries were made.