BRITAIN NOT CONSULTED.

Chronicle (Levin), 11 June 1947, Page 6

BRITAIN NOT CONSULTED.

LONDON, June 9. Making a statement in the House of Commons on the recent developments in Hungary, -the Minister of State (Sir Hector McNeil) said that neither the Russian nor the Hnnagrian authorities had at any time consulted Britain, despite the fact that Britain, as one of the three Powers entrusted with the enforcCement of the armistice, had the right to be consulted on such niatters, He had, therexore, asked for the doeuments conceimed, but so far they had not been provided." He had algo instrueted the British Ambassador in Moscow to discuss the whole question with the Russian 'Government with a view to obtaining elucidation of what had oecurred in Hungary and clarification of the Russian policy in Hungary. Britain hoped that the ehanges in the Hungarian Government would not lead to any departure from 'this 'principles of Parliamentary DemocM'ey'. •' SuehM- 'developments' would have serious repercussions on British and -Hungarian relations. At preserit it wa's premature to pass judgment. The Daily Telegraph Budapest correspondent says one of the next major steps for bringing Hungary into line with the other "new Demoeracies" of Eastern Europe is expeeted to be thf creation of Aome ' forni of "united front ' ' for t-he September elections, re miniscent of . the procedure in BuJ garia, Poland, Rumania and Yugf slavia. Such a front probably wil

comprise the Smallholders, Sociai Democrats, Communists and National Peasants. It is safe to assume thal the ranks of the Smallholders and Social Democrats will be purged befor the election of elements objectionable to the Communists.