Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1944, The British Commonwealth and Europe, Volume III

740.00119 European War/9–244: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)

Washington, September 2, 1944—midnight.

7124. The Department has received reports from its missions in various neutral capitals regarding approaches by Hungarian officials or other Hungarians purporting to be in communication with Horthy and other Hungarian leaders seeking to initiate discussions concerning surrender terms for Hungary. American diplomatic and consular officials have been instructed to say in connection with such approaches that any offer of Hungarian surrender should be addressed to the three principal Allies and that if the Hungarian Government is genuinely desirous of concluding an armistice with the Allies it should designate a representative or mission with full powers to sign such an armistice.

The British Embassy here has informed the Department that the British Ambassador to Moscow⁹¹ has been instructed, in consideration of a similar approach made to the British representative in Bern,⁹² to seek the assent of the Soviet Government to a proposal that the Hungarians be informed that the three Allied Governments are prepared to present surrender terms to any plenipotentiary named by the Regent and that the meetings for such purpose should take place in Italy. The British Foreign Office suggested that the Department send similar instructions to its representative.

The Department agrees to the suggestion that the Hungarians be informed that the Soviet, British and American Governments are prepared to present surrender terms for Hungary to any plenipotentiary named by the Regent. While we would not wish to interpose special objection to Italy as a place for armistice discussions with the Hungarians, we believe that for geographic and other reasons Ankara would be more suitable.

The Department’s proposals on terms of surrender for Hungary, which were approved by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, were forwarded to London with the Department’s despatch no. 4433 of August 15 for consideration by the European Advisory Commission. The Department hopes that the British and Soviet Governments will share its view that the terms for Hungary should receive the urgent consideration of the Commission.

Please inform the Foreign Office of the views of the Department as set forth above. Repeated to Moscow.⁹³

Hull

91. Sir Archibald Clark Kerr.
92. Clifford John Norton, British Minister in Switzerland.
93. As telegram 2115.