HL Deb 04 March 1952 vol 175 cc420-1

2.42 p.m.

LORD VANSITTART

My Lords, I beg to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask whether Her Majesty's Government will consider further measures to express their effective abhorrence of the deportation by the Hungarian Government of 70,000 persons of all ages, in circumstances which doom them to slow death, especially since the Hungarian Government are now adding vastly to these numbers by turning out of house and home individuals displeasing to a Communist Government.]

THE MARQUESS OF READING

My Lords, Her Majesty's Government share their predecessors' ahorrence of the in-human deportations which took place in Hungary during May and July last year. This abhorrence was last made public in a statement made in the House of Commons by Mr. Ernest Davies, in answer to a Parliamentary Question on August 1. The disgust felt generally in the free world at these heartless measures received further expression at the time in the Press of this country, and in broadcasts by the B.B.C. Thereafter, my information is that mass deportations ceased for the time being. Should it become clear that they are being resumed, Her Majesty's Government will not fail to make clear their condemnation of such action by every effective means in their power.

LORD VANSITTART

My Lords, these odious and brutal, practices are now spreading to Poland and Roumania. I do feel that it would be a shame on us all if our united humanity could not devise some means of expressing our reprobation in more than words. Again, may I make a tentative suggestion? The Hungarian Communists have in this country a number of friends and relatives who are Hungarian subjects. Could we perhaps ask them to leave?

THE MARQUESS OF READING

That may be a matter for consideration but it is obviously not one on which the noble Lord will expect me to reply at this moment.

VISCOUNT STANSGATE

My Lords, would Her Majesty's Government give consideration even for one second to the introduction of the hostage system in this country?

THE MARQUESS OF READING

My recollection is that it was not well looked upon in this country during the war.

LORD VANSITTART

My Lords, I should like to point out to the noble Viscount that there is a great difference between it hostage and an undesirable.