STALIN HAS STRUCK AGAIN

Stalin has struck again. This time at Hungary, and the tragedy of yet another ancient Christian power in Eastern Europe is drawing to a close. The Hungarian Government, originally enjoying a major ity of Christians, has been communised. The very strength of resistance to Corn munism has hastened its downfall.
By Our Diplomatic Correspondent
The flight to Switzerland of the Hungarian Prime Minister, M, Ferenc Nagy, and his subsequent resignation from office, followed by the appointment of his successor, M. Laps Dinyes, indicates a speeding -up of the Soviet master plan for Danubian Europe.
The perfect Soviet facade Government now exists in Hungary. On Saturday M. Varga, Secretary of the Smallholders' Party, in announcing the new Premier's appointment, told the Press that it had been made "on Russia's direct orders?' On Monday M. Varga took flight from Hungary and is now believed to be in Austria.
THE SOVIET PLAN It is also announced that there will be elections in September. Informed Hungarian opinion in London told me this week that it is prepared to Write the result of the elections now. They will take the same shape as the recent Polish elections and they will have a more corn
pIetely Sovietising effect. In Poland M. Mikolajczyk is comparatively free. In Hungary the opposition leaders to Communism have been arrested and imprisoned on charges of conspiracy.
From September onwards the Soviet plan will go into effect along the Danube. Russian pressure against the signing of the Peace Treaty with Austria will cease. There will be a complete reversal of policy from the East. Demands will he made for the evacuation of all Austria and with this accomplished the last, and weakest, of the Danubian countries will lie between Tito's Yugoslavia and a new Red Hungary, completely at the mercy of the Red Army.
Already it is announced from Budapest that the Hungarian Army will be trained in future by officers of the Red Army,
In 1945, when the elections were held the Hungarian Smallholders refused to accept the suggestion, made by Marshal Zhukov, that they join an electoral bloc. They won
the election, taking 60 per cent. of the votes: the Communists gained 18 per cent. Yet the Communists were still able to retain the most important key posts in the Cabinet through the influence of the Rcd Army, Weakly led by Ferenc Nagy, the Smallholders were subjected to continual accusations of retaining "Fascist elements." They were reduced in number by this method until December of 1946, when a number of them were arrested and charged with conspiracy against the State.
The arrests continued until the coup of last week. which it is thought was precipitated by the strengthening of American policy in Greece and by the refusal of the Smallholders to agree to the nationalisation of the banks.
PERTINENT FACTS Facts which should be borne in mind when judging the Hungarian affair are as follows:
With the banks nationalised the American loan promised to Hungary will, in effect, if paid over, come under the control of the dominating party in the State. 'that is the Communist Party—that is Russia.
Under the terms of the Peace Treaty with Hungary, signed by the Great Powers in February, Russia should have evacuated the last of her troops by the end of May. The Russians are maintaining their forces under the excuse that with the delay in the signing of the Austrian treaty tha,y must maintain a line of communication to their zone in that country. For that purpose they have 150,000 men in Hungary.
Hungary is in effect on a war footing, and, allied with Yugoslavia, is in a perfect position to crush Austria, if Stalin says go.