864.01/529
Archduke Otto of Austria to
President Roosevelt
37
Washington, April 4,
1944.
Dear Mr. President: First of all, let me
thank you most warmly for your kindness for having acted rapidly on
my requests in these last days. I am the more grateful as I know
that you have not been feeling well and that therefore my letters
and notes meant an added strain on you.
For this reason also it is only reluctantly that I send you this
letter and the vital Annexes to it. I would have certainly waited if
I was not forced to act because of the situation in Europe. But
without endangering the whole future I can no longer let the
Hungarian diplomats and the Underground wait for instruction and for
guidance.
I join to this letter three Annexes, which cover the problems:
- 1.
- A short historic review of the events leading to my
present letter to you;
- 2.
- The plan of the Hungarian Council for Resistance.
- 3.
- A short outline of measures that would be necessary and
for which we would ask your kind assistance in order to help
the Hungarian Council for Resistance.
I would be most grateful if you could let me know as soon as
possible, for the aforementioned reasons, your views, your advice
and your decisions on all these matters.
[Page 861]
Needless to say that, as in the past, you can be assured of my
absolute discretion on this entire subject.
With my best wishes for a prompt and complete recovery of your health
and with my renewed thanks for your kindness and respectful regards
I remain, dear Mr. President,
Yours very sincerely,
Otto of Austria
[Enclosure 1]
Annex I
Historic Review of the Diplomatic and
Military Events Leading to the Present Letter
N.B. This is a compilation from Hungarian
official documents and official telegrams from Lisbon.
- 1.
- Evolution of the situation since January: Hitler refuses
to General Szombathely, Chief of Staff of the Royal
Hungarian Army, the return of the remainders of the eight
Hungarian divisions, which are scattered behind the Russian
front. He demands new action against the Jews, the sending
of Hungarian workers to Germany, more supplies and more
raw-materials. He demands the extradition of the interned
American and British pilots. All these demands are rejected.
Hitler declares early in February that he expects that the
Hungarian army shall fight on the Hungarian border against
the Russians. In the same time Hitler conspires with
Hungarian Nazis.
- 2.
- On March 14th Hitler demands in a stiff note the shipping
of 25,000 Jews per week to Germany. Reason: In Hungary live
in freedom more than a million Jews, more than in the whole
remainder of Europe; this becomes intolerable with the
approach of the Soviets.—The Hungarian Cabinet rejects this
demand unanimously and notifies the Germans on March
15th.
- 3.
- On March 16th Hitler invites Horthy urgently for a visit
at his headquarters in Germany on the matter of the
Hungarian troops in Russia.—Horthy sends a telegram to the
Hungarian ministers in neutral countries ordering them that,
in case of German invasion, they should immediately seek
contact with their American and British colleagues and
should put themselves at my disposal. He furthermore sends a
document for me as the legitimate King of Hungary,
containing full powers. This document is deposited with my
brother Charles Louis in Lisbon. Horthy orders the army to
resist in case of invasion. Only then does he leave for
Hitler’s headquarters.
- 4.
- A Hungarian Underground is organized and its arming had
also been started. It is put under my orders through an
intermediary agent in a neutral country.
- 5.
- At Horthy’s arrival Hitler demands from him the complete
mobilization of Hungary against Russia, the extradition of
all Jews, refugees and prisoners of war to Germany, the
shipping of 250,000 workers to Germany, the handing over of
the Hungarian food and raw-material reserves; Horthy refuses
these requests. Since that time nobody has seen him and the
place of his present residence is unknown.
- 6.
- While these conversations take place, the Germans attack
by surprise Hungary with extensive use of parachutists. The
Hungarian troops offer scattered resistance.
- 7.
- The Kallay Government refuses to resign and the Germans,
not Horthy, appoint a new Government in Hungary, which at
once suppresses the Hungarian Constitution.
- 8.
- Only the Hungarian Minister in Ankara follows the orders
of the Quisling Government. The other heads of diplomatic
Missions follow Horthy’s orders to keep the Legations for
the legal Government, subject to my instructions. This is
done in Libson, Madrid, Bern, Helsinki and Stockholm. There
is good outlook that the neutral countries will continue to
recognize these diplomats as the representatives of the
legal Government of Hungary.
- 9.
- The just mentioned five Ministers report to me on March
29th, they ask for further instructions, suggesting that, in
conformity with their instructions and the powers deposited
by Horthy, I at once appoint a new Hungarian
Government.
[Enclosure 2]
Annex II
Plan of the Hungarian Council for
Resistance
Although the legal basis obviously exists I do not intend, for
the time being, to create a Hungarian Government in exile. On
the other hand, it has become urgent and indispensable that some
competent Hungarian Authority be created for guidance and
coordination of all Hungarian efforts for the fight against
Hitler.
It is therefore planned to organize a Hungarian Council for
Resistance, composed now of the five loyal Hungarian Ministers,
namely the Ministers in Lisbon, Stockholm, Madrid, Bern and
Helsinki. As soon as this Council is organized, it shall elect
as its Chairman Mr. John Pelenyi, former Hungarian Minister in
Washington, D.C., and at this time Professor in Dartmouth
College. The members of the Council retain their present
diplomatic posts. Membership of the Council is limited to active
diplomatic representatives of Hungary, whose number might still
increase. Besides electing Mr. Pelenyi as its President, the
Council may designate also other Hungarian personalities
[Page 863]
for specific tasks or
missions. Neither myself nor Mr. Eckhardt are included in the
Council.
The Council is not a Government. It constitutes nevertheless the
only existing organ of the legal Hungarian Government deprived
at present of its liberty of action. By the formation of this
Council, the continuity of Hungarian constitutional life is
maintained. The Council shall cease to exist when constitutional
order on Hungarian soil is restored.
The Council offers its services to the Allies.
The Council’s aims are:
- 1.
- To unite, organize and direct the Underground Forces
in Hungary as well as Hungarian factors abroad for
political resistance and for armed fight against
Hitler.
- 2.
- To save patriots, Jews and refugees in Hungary from
extermination by the Nazis.
The Council has no other aim. But by its existence and by its
actions Hungarian Statehood survives and the participation of
Hungary in the fight against Hitler is assured.
I believe it to be my duty to proceed to the formation of this
Hungarian Council for Resistance as soon as your acceptance of
this plan has been won.
[Enclosure 3]
Annex III
Requests:
Leadership of the contemplated action and the Central Office of
the Council for Resistance, is planned to be located in
Washington D.C., as I desire to keep all activities of the
Council in full harmony with the U.S.A. views and policies.
Should I be fortunate to receive your consent, the following
assistance seems indispensable for the efficient and orderly
functioning of the Council:
- A.
-
In General:
- 1.
- Authorization for the publication of the
organization and the aims of the Council, with the
moral backing of the U.S.A. Government.
- 2.
- As the main activity of the Council for
Resistance would be carried on along Underground
lines, some form of stable military collaboration,
also by appointment of a military liaison Officer
with the Council. Designation of an Officer of
liaison also by other interested Government
agencies would improve efficient collaboration in
every respect.
- 3.
- Authorization of rapid and secure means of
communication between the Central Office in
Washington D.C. and each member of the Council in
neutral countries.
- 4.
- Authorization for the use of an adequate news
and propaganda service directed towards Hungary
for the information and guidance of the Hungarian
people.
- 5.
- If necessary: the unfreezing of some Hungarian
assets in order to cover the costs of the
Washington Central Office and eventually also of
member-legations in neutral countries which do not
possess adequate financial means.
- Should you, Mr. President, approve of these measures,
I beg to ask you to give the necessary orders to the
interested Government agencies.
- B.
-
Specific Instructions: seem
further needed in order to secure urgently harmony
amongst the widely scattered Hungarian forces of
resistance in Europe:
- 1.
- An order to General Bissell to grant me the
possibility to wire to my brother through General
Bissell’s channels (as in the past week). Also
authorization to my brother Charles Louis to send
me wires through the same channel.
- 2.
- Authorization for Archduke Charles Louis to
travel by the Military Transport Plane from Lisbon
or from the Azores to the United States and back
to Lisbon. Also instruction to grant to him the
U.S. Visa in Lisbon as well as an immediate
Exit-Permit from the United States for his return
to Lisbon. The reasons for his trip are:
-
a.
- Charles Louis has received valuable secret
information which he should report personally to
you and to myself.
-
b.
- Charles Louis is seriously ill and has to go
to a hospital, probably for an operation, which
should be performed here and not in Portugal. But
he cannot leave Lisbon before he is adequately
replaced by his brother Rudolf.
- 3.
- Authorization that my brother Archduke Rudolf
be granted the use of the Military Transport Plane
to the Azores or to Lisbon, in order to replace
urgently Charles Louis, especially in maintaining
contacts with the Underground.
