Office of the Historian

740.00119 Control (Hungary)/8–1745: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman)

Washington, August 17, 1945—6 p.m.

1852. Difficulties placed in the way of entrance of American citizens into ex-satellite countries, whether civilians having bona fide interests such as journalists, relief workers, reps of American business interests etc (re Budapest’s 43, 45 and 50 Aug 6, 8 and 11)31 or military and civilian officials not directly attached to our Missions or the American military missions (re Budapest’s 39 Aug 3)32 are not in Dept’s view justified in the light of situation in Hungary and other ex-satellite states since end of hostilities in Europe.

This Govt feels most strongly that during second period of armistice in these countries ACC activities must be on a truly tripartite basis along lines envisaged at Potsdam and that local authorization for entry is quite properly one of ACC functions. This Govt does not believe that any one of the three countries represented on the ACC is justified in imposing onerous conditions involving a complicated procedure and consequent delays.

This Govt is most seriously concerned over the incident reported by Gen Key33 in his Z–400 regarding the virtual expulsion from [Page 293] Hungary by the Soviet representation on the ACC of three American army officers having official business with our Military Mission and sees no valid reason why requests of this nature for entry should not be granted without delay.

Please bring foregoing to attention of Soviet Govt and endeavor to obtain improvement of present unsatisfactory situation through immediate agreement of Soviet authorities to prompt local clearance by ACC’s in Hungary, Rumania and Bulgaria of applications, including pending cases, for entry into those countries when presented by US or UK reps. It may be helpful in this connection that Voroshilov34 is reported to be in Moscow.

Sent to Moscow; rptd Budapest, Bucharest, Sofia and Caserta.35

Byrnes
  1. These numbered telegrams were repetitions to Moscow of telegrams 377, 393, and 410 sent to the Department. Nos. 377 and 393 not printed; for No. 410, see p. 840.↩
  2. Not printed.↩
  3. Maj. Gen. William S. Key, U.S. representative on the Allied Control Commission for Hungary.↩
  4. Marshal of the Soviet Union Kliment Efremovich Voroshilov, Chairman (President) of the Allied Control Commission for Hungary.↩
  5. As Nos. 312, 425, 257, and 751, respectively.↩