"Evasive Answers"

Sir,—I am sure many of us admired the recent Russian students who visited New Zealand—their knowledge of history, their love of democracy, etc., is astounding. But why did they give such evasive replies when I asked them about Hungary?

One question was: "If the Soviet is so peace-loving and democratic as you claim it to be, how was it possible that Russian troops were sent against the Hungarian Revolutionary Government in 1956, which government was headed by a veteran member of the Communist Party, Ymre Nagy? This government received its power from the previous Communist Prime Minister—Erno Gero—and was thus the only legal government at the time. This government declared its intention to be independent of both the Western and the Eastern blocks and to seek neutrality. It received its power through the will of the majority."

In answer to these questions, there were many evasive answers reference to the Warsaw Pact. Facists, etc. But did they answer my questions? They did not, because they could not. Even if these other "revolutionary governments" of the West were wrong and illegal, it does not mean that the Russian interference was Justified.—I am, etc.,

Not Impressed.

(Abridged.)