HC Deb 21 March 1949 vol 463 cc8-9
5. Mr. Hollis

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when he will be in a position to issue the contemplated White Paper on the trial of Cardinal Mindszenty.

Mr. Mayhew

As the House is aware, my right hon. Friend has received no reliable report by an impartial eyewitness of the trial. He is further handicapped by having no details of the treatment meted out to the Cardinal between the date of his arrest and the hearing of the case. My right hon. Friend has, therefore, reached the conclusion that it will not be possible to produce a satisfactory White Paper on the trial.

Mr. Hollis

While I fully appreciate that there would be little purpose in producing a White Paper so white that there would be nothing in it, may I ask the hon. Gentleman to bear in mind that we have had a promise from the Foreign Secretary that he will not desist from attempts to discover and publish the facts? While we are not asking the Government to publish anything before they are in possession of the facts, can the hon. Gentleman assure us that the Government are not desisting from their efforts to discover the facts?

Mr. Mayhew

Yes, Sir, we are naturally interested in receiving the facts, and if in future it is justified, we will issue a White Paper.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Will the hon. Gentleman also give full publicity to the details of the obstruction which the Government have met with in their attempts to elicit the facts?

Captain Crookshank

The hon. Gentleman has said that in the circumstances it would not be possible to produce what he called a "satisfactory" White Paper. Would he amend that, and say that in no circumstances would it be possible to have a satisfactory White Paper on this subject?

Mr. Mayhew

A satisfactory White Paper is one which gives the facts. As I have already explained, we have not sufficient facts.