Office of the Historian

Budapest Legation Files: 711.9 Peace Treaty

Memorandum by the Secretary of Mission in Hungary (Squires) to the Representative in Hungary (Schoenfeld)

[Extract]6a
Budapest, October 11, 1945.

. . . . . . .

VI

A portion of the remaining time at my disposal in London7 was devoted to the consideration of the advantages of extending immediate diplomatic recognition to Hungary. This proposal was first raised by Mr. Dunn, who asked my opinion of its validity. I indicated that I considered the reply of such importance that it should only be made by Mr. Schoenfeld, and indicated my unwillingness to go on record with a reply which might even be considered a semiofficial view, insofar as this Mission was concerned. In several discussions thereafter I maintained this position and took part in the discussion only as an American with some immediate background in the country concerned.

It is important to note that the immediate restoration of diplomatic relations with Hungary was considered by the Secretary and his advisers not so much in connection with the effect in Hungary as in Bulgaria and Rumania. It was felt, and I believe, rightly, that the restoration of normal diplomatic procedures between Hungary and the United States would emphasize and give added validity to our refusal to do business with the present governments in Rumania and Bulgaria.

The step taken in restoring diplomatic relations between the United States and Hungary was basically due to the pressure given the proposal by Mr. Dunn.8 Its effectiveness and the delay in making the proposal as dramatically and speedily as might have been done was [Page 887] due, in my opinion, to the opposition of Mr. Bohlen,9 and in a measure, Mr. Dulles.10

It is my belief that the above statement places in the record all of my actions in London which might be construed to have had some effect on the official position of the American Government in Hungary.

Leslie Albion Squires
  1. The first five parts of this memorandum deal with Soviet and United States proposals regarding a peace treaty with Hungary.↩
  2. Mr. Squires worked with the United States delegation at the First Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers in London, September 11–October 2, 1945. He arrived in London on September 13.↩
  3. James C. Dunn, Assistant Secretary of State and Deputy to the Secretary of State at the Council of Foreign Ministers in London.↩
  4. Charles E. Bohlen, Assistant to the Secretary of State and member of the United States delegation at the Council of Foreign Ministers.↩
  5. John Foster Dulles, Consultant to the Secretary of State and member of the United States delegation at the Council of Foreign Ministers.↩