864.00/9–1045: Telegram
The Representative in Hungary (Schoenfeld) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 11—8:40 p.m.]
562. Tildy of Smallholders Party called today and informed me he was faced with decision on behalf of his Party whether to announce non-participation of party in forthcoming election or to wait until abuses at election time become manifest and then announce refusal of party to go on or thirdly to await result of election and then determine whether it was sufficiently free to warrant acceptance. He was anxious to obtain expression from me as to these alternatives. I answered I was in no position to give him advice of this kind. My telegram 541, September 6 Nr. 10 to London.
I said I had intimated to Hungarian Government in pursuance of your instructions readiness of our Government upon request to consult our Allies regarding election Hungary and had been waiting for some [Page 867] indication from Hungarian Government as to its attitude. I said I had received no indication of Hungarian Government’s intention to act upon our intimation. I added that since it was often alleged that Hungarian Government is unable to take any action without sanction of political party leaders I was beginning to wonder whether our intimation had been brought to attention of these leaders. I gained impression from Tildy that party leaders had not been consulted and that in all probability importance of our intimation had not been appreciated by Prime Minister.
Tildy said he would see Prime Minister at first opportunity and suggest expediency of Hungarian Government notifying three governments represented on Allied Control Commission here of its desire to harmonize its action in regard to election with public pronouncements of the Allies since the Crimea declaration this subject. He would recommend to Prime Minister that inasmuch as Hungarian National Assembly was now considering electoral law this legislation might be appropriately brought to attention of three Allies. Tildy said he would inform me of result of his conversation with Prime Minister if Prime Minister declined to follow his suggestion but that if Prime Minister accepted it and decided to act upon it I need not expect further communication from Tildy at this time.
Repeated to London for Secretary Byrnes as Nr. 16. Sent Department.