§ 56. Mr. Macleanasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what official explanation he received as to why no British diplomatic or consular official was allowed access to Mr. Edgar Sanders while he was in prison awaiting trial by the Hungarian authorities.
§ 66. Professor Savoryasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has requested the mitigation of the sentence of 13 years' imprisonment inflicted upon Mr. Edgar Sanders, a British subject, in Budapest; whether a representative of the British Embassy was permitted to be present during the trial; and 'whether he will make a statement.
§ 67. Mr. Gammansasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps he proposes to take to secure the release of Mr. Edgar Sanders from imprisonment in Hungary; and whether Mr. Sanders was permitted to see any British official either before or after his sentence.
§ 68. Mr. Teelingasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the trial and sentence imposed on Mr. Sanders in Hungary.
§ Mr. YoungerHis Majesty's Government published a statement on 21st February expressing their views about the trial of Mr. Sanders. They said that facts within their knowledge made it certain that Mr. Sanders' so-called confession was a compendium of distortions and lies, and they had no doubt that he had been the victim of the usual technique of interrogation under pressure. His demeanour24W at the trial, at which representatives of His Majesty's Legation were present throughout, supported this belief.
Ever since his arrest on 21st November, His Majesty's Legation tried to induce the Hungarian authorities to allow His Majesty's consul to have access to him in accordance with normal international practice. They were told at first that no visit could be permitted until the preliminary investigation had been completed. Shortly before the trial, when it had become clear that the preliminary investigation must have been completed, the Hungarian Government changed their ground. They then said that Hungarian law did not contain any provision entitling foreign consuls to visit persons in prison and that the Legation's request lacked legal foundation. The real reason was no doubt that they did not wish to risk disclosing how Mr. Sanders was being conditioned.
In order to mark their dissatisfaction at the continued Hungarian refusal to allow His Majesty's consul to have access to Mr. Sanders, His Majesty's Government broke off trade negotiations with the Hungarian Government on 19th December.
Throughout the whole trial, two representatives of His Majesty's Legation were present in court, and now that the trial is over, the Legation have asked whether the consul may be allowed to see Mr. Sanders. They await a reply to this inquiry. Mr. Sanders has appealed against his sentence and His Majesty's Government must await the outcome of his appeal before considering whether any further action could usefully be taken on his behalf.