CONSPIRACY DENIED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26491, 19 June 1947, Page 7

CONSPIRACY DENIED

OVERTHROW OF GOVERNMENT HUNGARIAN SMALLHOLDERS’ PARTY WASHINGTON, Rec. 7 p.m. June 17. The deposed Hungarian Prime Minister, M. Ferenc Nagy, told a press conference to-day that he had come to the United States to speak for. the “ voiceless people ” of his country and make every effort within the framework of international law to end Soviet domination there. The was insistently questioned by reporters from Left Wing publications about the alleged plot to overthrow' the Hungarian Government, the discovery of which was the reason he was forced to resign. He replied that last December the police produced evidence which made him agree to the prosecution of conspiracy charges, “but now that I can have no further doubts about the methods and aims of Communists and their police, I can say that I do not believe there was a conspiracy against a democratic form of government. “Among those accused there might have been some people who said and wrote fantastic, childish things, bul neither the leaders nor the rank and file of the Smallholders’ Party plotted against the country.” ANOTHER PROTEST TO MOSCOW Rec. 8 p.m. LONDON, June 17. The Foreign Office has instructed Sir Maurice Peterson, British Ambassador, to see Mr Molotov and present an aide memoire restating the British view on the Russian handling of the Hungarian crisis, reports Reuter's diplomatic correspondent. It is understood that it rejects in strong terms Mr Molotov’s argument to Sir Maurice Peterson on June 9 that Britain was attempting to interfere in Hungarian internal affairs.

In asking to see the documents relating to Mr Nagy’s part in the alleged plot against the Hungarian regime, the Foreign Office has instructed Sir Maurice to reiterate that Britain s request is fully within the rights laid down in the constitution of the Allied Control Commission for Hungary. He will also point out the leading part which General Sviridov had played in the whole affair.