Just Sentence' Rajk Says

Northern Advocate, 26 September 1949, Page 5

Just Sentence' Rajk Says

BUDAPEST. Sun.—What was probably the most important of all the political trials behind the Iron Curtain ended in Budapest with the pronouncement of the death sentence on Laszlo Rajk, aged 40, former Hungarian Foreign Minister and a top-rank-ing Communist. Two of the seven other defendants were also sentenced to death. After hearing himself sentenced, Rajk stepped to the microphone and quietly said: “The sentence is just.” Asked by the judge if he wished to seek clemency from the Hungarian Presidium if the court confirmed the death sentence. Rajk said: "No, I don't.”

This was the culmination of the strange trial, in which the defendants eagerly admitted most of the accusations and even elaborated the charges. Rajk pleaded guilty to charges of committing treason and espionage foi Yugoslavia and America, and tb charges of plotting to overthrow the Hungarian Government by force and assassinate some of its leaders. FORMER M.F.S - The two other defendants sentenced to death were Dr Ribor Szonyi, a former member of Parliament and Communist Party official; and Andras Szalai, who was Dr Vzonyi’s assistant. Each was accused of treason. Lazar Mrankov, who was accused of treason and trying to overthrow the Government, was sentenced to life imprisonment. He was a former charge d'affaires of the Yugoslav Legation in Budapest. Dr Paul Justis, vice-president of the Hungarian Radio, was also sentenced to life imprisonment. Ivan Ognenovic, a confessed Yugo slav professional spy, was sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment. Lieutenant-General George Palffy. former Chief of Staff and Minister of Defence, was sent to a military court for retrial. He and Bela Korondy, colonel of police in the Hungarian Ministry of the Interior, were not sentenced because the court held that it was not competent to deal with them. The accused, all of whom pleaded guilty, took their sentences calmly. They have the right to appeal. DEATH ON GALLOWS

Unless the sentences are changed by the Higher Court, those sentenced to death will die on the gallows. Seven of the eight were charged with leading an organisation to overthrow the Hungarian Government. Six were also charged with treason, two with war crimes, one with crimes against the people, one with espionage, and one with incitement to murder. Two of the defendants sentenced to death, Szonyi and Szalai, both said that they agreed with their lawyers decision to appeal. They also wished to make use of their clemency plea should the Higher Court confirm their death sentences. The court said that Brankov had been spared the dea.h sentence because he was a foreign citizen owing allegiance to another country, and therefore no traitor to Hungary.

Not A Clash Of Ideals

NEW YORK, Sun.. (11 a.m.).— The main point at issue in the SovictYugoslav dispute was not a clash of ideals, but only of big countries trying to get domination over smaller ones, said the Yugoslave deputy foreign Minister (M. Beblcr), in a broadcast arranged by the United Nations. He accused Russia of trying to crush Yugoslavia. The treason trial in Budapest which was intended to prove the existence of a Yugoslav plot against Hungary had, in fact, proved the opposite—the independence of Yugoslavia. “Our foreign policy has been consistent ever since the new Yugoslav state was born in 1943,’’ he said. “The chief goal of this policy is the full sovereignty and complete independence of our country.”