Co-Defendants Also Found Guilty

Chronicle (Levin), 9 February 1949, Page 5

Co-Defendants Also Found Guilty

(N,Z.P.A

—Reutef.

Court President Replies To Critics

CO&lHgfti)

Received Wednesday, 10.5 a.m. BUDAPEST, February 8. The special People's Court sehtenced Cardinal Mindszenty to life imprisonment. The Court found him guilty on six charges connected^ with violating the law for the defence of the Republic, organising a conspiracy against the Hungarian Republic, treason and blackmarket eurrency deals. The Cardinal was also deprived of civil rights and the confiscation of all his pr'operty was ordered. The Court also found all co-defendants guilty.-

Dr. Justztin Baranayi was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment and loss of political rignts for ten years on a charge of being an accomplice in the conspiracy with Cardinal Mindszenty. The Cardinal's secretary, Dr Andras Zakar, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment and loss of political rights for ten years on £ treason charge and being tht Cardinal's accomplice. « Prince Paul Eszterhazy received a sentence of 15 years' imprisonment, loss of political rights for ten years and the confiscation of his property on charges of aiding an organisation against the Republic and blackmarket currency deaiings. Dr. Niklos Nagy, secretary of the Catholic Action organisation was , sentenced to three years' imprisonment and loss of political rights for flve years on charges of blackmarket currency dealings and not exposing the others' crimes to the Government. Father Bela Ispanky was sentenced to life imprisonment with loss of political rights for ten ! years and confiscation of property on charges of treason and black- ! market currency dealings. The Catholic journalist Dr. Laszlo Both was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment with the loss of political rights for ten years on a charge of treason. The United States Minister to Hungary, Mr. Seldon Chapin, had asked Cardinal Mindszenty for complete data on the political parties, on the Communists, on the Soviet troops in -Hungary and on mobilisation, said Dr. Olty, president of the court in announcing the verdicts. Not Judged as Cardinal. After reviewing the case, Dr. Olty turned to the court's "reasons," saying: "The imperialistic foreign Press and domestic reactionaries have tried to picture this trial as an attack against the Church and religious life. The trial, which was carried out in the presence of the world Press, undoubtedly showed clearly that there was no connection between Cardinal Mindszenty's priestly functions and liis criminal ac.ts, and that these priestly functions were not made tne subject of criminal charges. The Royalisb organisation, espionage and blackmarketing have nothing to 'do with religion. "For years Cardinal Mindszenty used his high cierical post to lead open and organised attacks against the regime in order to cause difficulties to the people 's democracy. The court left these facts out of consideration. None of the accused spoke about the persecution of religion in the course of the trial." Dr. Olty referred to the Protestant churches, which, he sai'd, lived in "perfect harmony" with the Government. "The court, in its verdict, did not judge Cardinal Mindszenty as a cardinal, but as Joseph Mindszenty, a Hungarian citizen." Dr. Olty stated that nobody in Hungary wou"'d tolerate the restoration of the Hapsburg Dynasty and that "the Hungarian peasants wi.l never voluntariiy return the land to the Mindszentys and Eszterhazys. That is why foreign interference is necessary. "Cardinal Mindszenty wanted to match the Cnurch and Republic against each other in order to Weaken the democracy. Americans support reactionary elements allover the world in order to suppress1 democratic power. Cardinal Mindszenty's moVement fitted perfectly in American political plans in Hungary — the restoration of the Monarchy and the abolition of land reform. That gave Cardinal Mindszenty's movement great importance and meant serious danger to the people 's democracy." The court ordered all defendants to pay the expenses of the trial to the Hungarian Government. Loses Fortune of £75. | As a result 'of the court's order, Prince Eszterhazy loses his personal fortune of £75. His family was once the richest in Europe, and before the war he owned 170,000 acres of land in Hungary and another 1500 acres in Bavaria. During the trial he stated that the American military authorities were shortly to release his Bavarian property to him. In the original indictment, Dr. J Baranayi was charged with lead-' ing an organisation aiming at the overthrow of the Government, but he was found guilty of being an accomplice only of such an organ- ' isation. The court adjourned after .ordering the case to be reviewe'd by the 1 Supreme Tribunal of the Hungar- r ian People's Court. ; ' !: