Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1945, Europe, Volume IV

740.00119 Council/9–2745: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Acting Secretary of State

London, September 27, 1945—7 p.m.
[Received September 27—4:05 p.m.]

10025. Delsec⁸⁹ 69. The question of recognition of the Provisional Hungarian Govt arose in connection with our reiteration of unwillingness to negotiate treaties with Rumania and Bulgaria (urtel 8499, Sept. 27 [26]⁹⁰). On Sept. 18 I informed Schoenfeld⁹¹ that unless he saw objection and so informed me, I intended to announce before the end of this conference that we recognize the present Provisional Govt, subject to pledges being given for meeting the conditions set forth in the Crimea Declaration on Liberated Europe with particular reference to point (c) regarding interim representative authorities and the establishment through free elections of govt responsive to the will of the people. Schoenfeld’s reply was repeated to you as his 612, Sept. 19.

On Sept. 21, after further debate in the conference on the situation in Rumania and Bulgaria, I authorized Schoenfeld to make known to the Hungarian authorities that we are prepared to establish diplomatic relations and negotiate a treaty with the Provisional Govt if they give full assurances for free and untrammeled elections for a representative govt and if, in the meantime, they provide to the full measure of their responsibilities under the armistice regime for freedom of political expression of democratic parties and right of assembly, such conditions being essential to permit the holding of free elections. For Schoenfeld’s reply see his 642, Sept. 25.⁹²

It may be stated to the press that our views as regards the present regimes in Rumania and Bulgaria, and our proposals for consultation under the Yalta formula have long been public knowledge. As regards Hungary we had felt that the provisional authorities would be able to take into account the interests of the various elements of the population in performing their functions as an interim govt. Accordingly, we are willing to proceed with normalizing our relations with that country. In any press statement particular emphasis should be given to the conditions of our proposal as stipulated in the preceding paragraph.⁹³

Please keep in mind that at this stage I am anxious not to emphasize publicly our differences with the Soviet Govt over the question of the Rumanian and Bulgarian Govts.

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Byrnes

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89. Designation assigned to telegrams from the Secretary of State and his party while attending the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers in London. Such telegrams were transmitted through the Embassy in London, but the Ambassador’s signature is being omitted.
90. Not printed; it reported that the New York Times had published a story on September 26 to the effect that the State Department had decided to recognize Hungary and exchange diplomatic missions on condition that Hungary held unfettered elections. The telegram further stated that the Department had received no information on the development and asked for urgent instructions from the Secretary. (740.00119 Council/9–2645)
91. For a paraphrase of telegram 4, September 18, 6 p.m. from the Secretary of State in London to Mr. Schoenfeld in Budapest, see footnote 75, p. 872.
92. Not printed.
93. For text of the Department’s statement concerning relations with Hungary, released to the press on September 29, see Department of State Bulletin, September 30, 1945, p. 478.