§ 2.5 p.m.
§ LORD CONESFORDMy Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have recognised Mr. Kadar's alleged Government as the Government of Hungary; and, if not, what has been their policy regarding the representation of Hungary at the United Nations.]
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (THE MARQUESS OF READING)My Lords, on November 8, the Credentials Committee of the Special Session of the General Assembly of United Nations, of which the United Kingdom is not a member, agreed
not to take any decision regarding the credentials of the representatives of Hungary at this time, pending further clarification.Her Majesty's Government accept that conclusion and consider that it is too soon to take any decision about the recognition of the new Hungarian Government. In Her Majesty's Government's view, the criterion for recognition is the exercise of effective Governmental authority. Reports reaching Her Majesty's Government indicate that the only real authority in Hungary at present is not that of the Hungarian Government but that of the commander of the Soviet Armed Forces.
§ LORD CONESFORDMy Lords, may I thank my noble friend for his careful reply? Is it not a hideous irony that the Hungarian people, assailed by one of the most atrocious attacks in recorded history, can address the United Nations only through a mouthpiece chosen by their assassins?
THE MARQUESS OF READINGMy Lords, that is perhaps in the nature of a 424 comment, rather than of a supplementary question, but that does not mean that I do not agree with it.