740.00119 EW/11–545: Telegram
The Representative in Hungary (Schoenfeld) to the Secretary of State
[Received 3:30 p.m.]
868. I have received from Prime Minister note dated November 3 enclosing copy of letter from Chief Military Department ACC ordering 70 percent reduction of strength of Hungarian Army to be completed by November 5 and further enclosing statement on strength and organization of Hungarian Army as of October 15 this year.55 Note points out that armistice agreement contains no stipulations governing peacetime army establishment and Prime Minister therefore considers it advisable to suspend final action pending conclusion of peace in keeping with repeated recognition by Allies of independence and sovereignty of Hungary. Note says armistice agreement limits Hungarian sovereignty only as to obligations therein stipulated. Note says ACC’s communication affects not only peace establishment of Hungarian Army but also number and legal status of civilians in Hungarian Ministry of Defence if they have a military institution under Hungarian law and could be reduced in numbers only following conclusion of peace. Some way dismissal of 70% of the army and civilian personnel as ordered in ACC’s letter seems to Prime Minister incompatible with social welfare and democratic ideas by depriving persons concerned of a livelihood. Finally term allowed for reduction and necessary reorganization is too short since Prime Minister says it could not be carried out without seriously endangering peacetime national defence liquidation of matters connected with the war and Hungary’s participation in European reconstruction. [Page 904] Prime Minister therefore requests me to ask ACC to suspend reduction of Army personnel as ordered pending conclusion of peace.
I am sending General Key copy of Prime Minister letter for action he may deem appropriate.
Sent to Department and repeated to Moscow as number 106 and London as 53.
- Telegram 851, November 2 from Budapest, reported that General Key, who had already obtained a copy of the Allied Control Commission directive on reduction of the Hungarian Armed Forces, regarded the matter as another example of unilateral action on the part of the Soviet representatives (740.00119 Control Hungary/11–245). Telegram 853, November 2, from Budapest, reported that General Key had discussed the matter with Marshal Voroshilov who admitted that the directive had been carelessly framed and promised that matter would be taken up at the next Allied Control Commission meeting (740.00119 Control Hungary/11–245).↩