Sittings of the House

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 2 November 1956.

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Photo of Sir Douglas Dodds-Parker Sir Douglas Dodds-Parker , Banbury 12:00, 2 November 1956

Perhaps it might be for the convenience of the House if I gave a very brief reply to the points made by the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition. I apologise for its briefness, but I only heard a few moments ago that this matter was to be raised. I also regret that my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary cannot be here for the reasons which my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House gave the House just now.

The reports from Budapest confirm that Soviet forces control the airfields round Budapest, that units have dug in round the city and that additional Soviet forces entered Hungary yesterday. The Hungarian Government have protested to the Soviet Embassy in Budapest, have repudiated the Warsaw Treaty and have declared their neutrality and appealed to the United Nations. But there is no news, so far, as to when this appeal will be heard.

I hope that my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary will be able to make a further statement to the House tomorrow.