HC Deb 27 April 1953 vol 514 cc1740-1
22. Mr. Ernest Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what reply he has sent to the Note from the Hungarian Government, in regard to Her Majesty's Government's statement on the continued imprisonment of Mr. Edgar Sanders.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

Her Majesty's Minister at Budapest has been instructed to reject the Hungarian Government's protest and to point out that they could not expect Her Majesty's Government to hold views less strong than those which my hon. Friend expressed in this House on 14th April.

Mr. Davies

While I am sure that the House will welcome that statement, may I ask the Minister whether it would not be possible for Her Majesty's Government to point out to the Hungarian Government that the best evidence that the accusations made in this House were unjustifiable would be for the Hungarian Government to permit a representative of Her Majesty's mission in Budapest to visit Mr. Sanders in prison?

Mr. Lloyd

I entirely agree. That might be a very good thing, and that suggestion has repeatedly been made.