"Wildest Political Terror Reigning'

Northern Advocate, 13 June 1947, Page 7

"Wildest Political Terror Reigning'

BRAVE HUNGARIAN DENOUNCES

(Received 11 a.m.) LONDON, June 12. THE Budapest correspondent of the Associated Press says the Leader of the Freedom Party (M. Deszo Sulyok) threw the Hungarian Assembly into a turmoil today when he described the new Government as an “undemocratic police state.” He called upon the Smallholders' Party to adopt Communist tactics if it hoped ever to establish a real democracy in Hungary.

“The wildest and most objectionable political terror reigns in Hungary,’’ he said. “There is no freedom of the Press, assembly or opinion. “Whenever we announce a political meeting an organised unruly mass of 400 or 500 persons, amply armed, well paid, and quite drunk, appears, and, according to a prearranged plan, upsets the meeting, and, in many cases, uses violence against the audience and speakers.” Communists shouted and jeered M. Sulyok’s speech. The Communist Leader (Deputy Premier Rakosi) went from desk to desk whispering with members of the | Communist Party. There were many corridor comments that M. Sulyok was a brave man to attack the Communists who could easily have him arrested. The correspondent says M. Sulyok continued sarcastically : “These organised groups which attacked us were defenders of democracy. “Their acts were praised. “Any member of our group who resisted their blows was arrested and interned. “Our men have been arrested one after the other. “This glorious democratic hangman’s work has given us a police state where the influence of the police not only weighs heavier and heavier on public life but has become intolerable to the private life of the individual.” When M. Sulyok mentioned the arrest of members of his group who resisted attackers’ blows, the Communist Minister of the Interior (M. Rajk) interjected: “And in many cases rightly so.” Half-way, through M. Sulyok’s speech word got round that the American Note criticising events leading to the ousting of M. Nagy had been delivered.

The Deputy Speaker and Communist Leader (M. Istvan Kossa) at the conclusion of M. Sulyok’s speech arbitrarily adjourned Parliament until June 18, even before members had time to consider the vote of confidence for the Prime Minister (M. Dinnyes), which was on the agenda. The Associated Press says M. Sulyok was among the first 18 persons to be forced out of the Smallholders' Party in February, 1946, after repeated Communist assertions that he was “a reactionary.” Reuters Budapest correspondent: says secret police, made more arrests after investigation of an alleged plot against the republic The latest arrest was that of M. Ferenc Jarrnay, police officer, alleged to have been involved in “the planned escape” of Bela Kovacs, secretary of the Smallholders' Party.' Hungarian newspapermen stated that M. Sulyok’s strong speech did not indicate freedom of speech in Hungary. Local newspapers would not be allowed to publish his remarks. The few persons who were in the Parliamentary visitors’ gallery would probably be the only citizens who would know what was said.

Reuters Budapest correspondent says several Smallholders’ deputies are considering voting against ratification of the peace treaty because of the new clause which the Government placed inconspicuously at the end of the bill of ratification. The clause empowers the Government to make binding treaties with other powers without first securing Parliament’s consent. The ' British United Press Budapest correspondent says the public prosecutor is reported tc be demanding that M. Sulyok’s Parliamentary immunity from arrest be lifted and that he be ajyested for “treacherous remarks against the Government.”