Department of the Army Files: Telegram32
The Chief of the United States Military Representation on the Allied Control Commission for Hungary (Key) to the War Department 33
Z 857, Key ACC Hungary US delegation to Marshall for OPD and JCS, Information ACC Bulgaria and ACC Rumania. Please refer to my Z-446 dated 23 August.34
Information desired concerning any further action contemplated in this matter. In telegram nbr 3173 of 5 September from Harriman to State Department it was stated substantially that “efforts to discuss the revision of the ACC Statutes either in Budapest, Bucharest or Sofia or in Moscow would serve no useful purpose. The view of the Soviet Government that this issue was eliminated by the acceptance at Potsdam of the draft made by Marshal Voroshilov confirms our [Page 894] previous experience with reference to the interpretation placed by the Soviets on the phrase “as basis”. It is clear that we are confronted with an absolute difference in interpreting the Potsdam agreement. I think for this reason the matter would be a proper subject for consideration at the forthcoming London meeting of Foreign Ministers. Progress cannot be made towards agreeing on the AGO Statutes until this question is settled.”
Ambassador Harriman during a recent visit here informed me that no new developments had occurred in this matter.
Attention is again invited to the position which we occupy in Hungary as a result of the arbitrary attitude of the Soviets requiring us to operate under their directive which we officially asserted was not in accordance with the agreement reached at Potsdam and that the U.S. Government did not accept the proposals as the Statutes for the ACC.
It is hoped that appropriate action can be taken at an early date on high government levels to bring about an improvement in the situation here which will enable U.S. and British representatives to participate on an equal basis with the Soviets in the operation of the ACC. Important actions are still being taken by the Soviets without the knowledge or concurrence of the representatives of the other governments and increasing difficulties are being experienced in obtaining clearances for U.S. personnel to enter Hungary.
Under existing conditions the U.S. and British Governments occupy a subordinate position in the policy making of the ACC and I personally feel the need for more active support from high diplomatic levels.
- War Department classified message number CM–IN–9087.↩
- A War Department memorandum to the Department of State, dated October 20, requested information upon which to base a reply to General Key’s message (740.00119 Control (Hungary)/10–2045). The Department’s response to General Key’s message was contained in telegram 592, October 26, 8 p.m. to Budapest, p. 900.↩
- Not printed; it repeated some of the information contained in Major General Key’s letter of August 23 to Schoenfeld, p. 855.↩