864.00/9–1945: Telegram
The Representative in Hungary (Schoenfeld) to the Secretary of State, at London
[Received 5:30 p.m.]
612. Urtel 4, Sept. 18.75 I cannot see that we lose anything by recognizing present Provisional Govt in Hungary but I remain skeptical [Page 873] of value of any pledge to be given by Provisional Govt as to point (c) of Crimea declaration whether such pledge is condition precedent to recognition or is concomitant with recognition (my telegram 10 to London; 541 to Dept, Sept 6).
Received visit today from Hungarian Prime Minister Miklos, who handed me copy of new Hungarian electoral law and in doing so spoke bitterly of terrorism, intimidation and other abuses now exercised in Communist interest all flowing from presence occupation forces here. When I inquired casually whether recognition of present Govt here would in his opinion serve to strengthen Govt’s authority, he answered this would be the case only provided Cabinet were reconstituted as it had been originally and before present leftist majority of seven to six prevailed. This distribution of party representation in Cabinet, he said, deprived Govt of representative character it previously possessed.
Sent London, repeated to Dept as 612.
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Telegram 4, September 18, 1945, 6 p.m. from the Secretary of State in London to Schoenfeld in Budapest, was not repeated to the Department. In paraphrase it reads as follows:
“Provided you see no objection and so immediately advise me, it is my intention to announce before this conference ends that we recognize the present Hungarian provisional government subject to pledges for meeting conditions in Declaration on Liberated Europe made at Crimea, particularly in reference to “C” re interim representative authorities and free elections responsive to will of the people.” (Budapest Legation File: 1945: 801 Hungarian Government Recognition)
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