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

864.85/9–2045: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Representative in Hungary (Schoenfeld)

Washington, November 2, 1945—9 p.m.

631. Urtel 616 Sep 19 Mission despatch 315 Sep 20.⁵⁴ Dept prepared to authorize use by Hungarian Govt of such Hungarian vessels and barges on Danube in U.S. zones Germany and Austria as may be determined by the U.S. occupation authorities to be surplus to needs of U.S. forces. Authorization to military to permit such surplus Hungarian river craft to proceed downstream to Hungarian territory for delivery to proper Hungarian representatives will be contingent upon the following arrangement:

(1) The Hungarian Govt formally to recognize that river craft are being handed over as interim measure to permit operation by Hungarian Govt for urgent transportation needs of Hungary and that loan of vessels to Hungary is without reference or prejudice to future decisions to be made concerning ultimate disposition of such equipment.

(2) Hungarian authorities receiving river craft from U.S. military to sign receipts containing physical description of items thus handed over.

(3) Hungarian Govt to undertake to keep U.S. authorities informed regarding use of such equipment and to return river craft in question to control of U.S. military authorities in U.S. zones Germany or Austria upon request by this Govt.

(4) Hungarian Govt to obtain approval by ACC, Budapest of this arrangement and the undertakings of the Hungarian Govt under it.

Please discuss this matter with Hungarian foreign office with view to determining whether Hungarian Govt prepared to enter into above outlined arrangement and to present matter to ACC for its approval. Please inform Dept of Hungarian reaction before further steps are taken.

To Budapest for action. Repeated to Berlin, London and Vienna for info.

Byrnes

54. Neither printed; telegram 616, September 19, from Budapest, reported receipt of a note from Hungarian Prime Minister Miklos requesting American assistance in returning Hungarian ships anchored in the Austrian section of the Danube (740.00119 EW/9–1945). Text of the Miklos note, dated September 18, 1945, was transmitted to the Department in despatch 315, September 20, from Budapest (864.85/9–2045).