HC Deb 08 May 1950 vol 475 cc24-5
46 and 47. Major Tufton Beamish

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) how many members of the Hungarian Legation in London have left this country at the request of the British Government in recent months; how many employees of the Hungarian Cultural Institute have left this country; and to what extent the departure of these individuals and the closing down of the Institute was intended as a reprisal for action taken by the Hungarian Government;

(2) which members of the British Legation staff in Hungary have bad to leave that country in recent months as a result of being declared persona non grata; and how many employees of the British Council have left Hungary as a result of the Hungarian Government's action in refusing to allow them to continue their work.

Mr. Ernest Davies

Two members of His Majesty's Legation in Budapest, the Commercial Secretary and the Assistant Military Attaché, had to leave Hungary a few weeks ago as each was declared persona non grata. Six employees of the British Council had to leave because their residence permits were withdrawn. No member of the Hungarian Legation has yet left this country at the request of His Majesty's Government, although the departure of one was requested on 18th April as a reprisal. There was only one Hungarian employee of the Hungarian Cultural Institute. This person was not required to leave this country. The closing down of the Institute was also a measure of reprisal.

Major Beamish

Can the Minister say what sort of reprisal it is to close down a totally non-existent organisation?

Mr. Davies

We would not accept the assumption that it was a non-existent organisation. Work was being carried on, and the work of the Institute has now ceased.

Major Beamish

Is the Minister aware that he is absolutely wrong in saying work was carried on? All the work which he said the Institute was doing has been done by the Hungarian Club. Are not the wires getting crossed somewhere, and will the Minister look into the matter further?

Mr. Davies

All I can say is that the work that was being done previously has now ceased to be done.

Mr. Martin Lindsay

On the assumption of the Minister that there was only one employee, if it was not a non-existent organisation it was as near to it as makes no difference.