840.4016/10–945: Telegram

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

563. Reurtel 729 Oct. 9. Praha is being instructed, in tel rptd to you as 562,34 to inform Czech Govt that latter’s assumption, stated [Page 938] in note of Aug 1635 that three Allied Govts agreed at Berlin Conference to exchange of Hungarian population in Zecho for Czechoslovak population in Hungary, is without foundation in fact.

Dept’s views on question remain as set forth in Deptel 70 June 4. In absence of international arrangement for transfer of Hungarians from Zecho such as was agreed upon at Berlin with respect to Germans in Zecho, Poland and Hungary, it cannot be assumed that US “agrees with” the Czechoslovak plan for the exchange of minority populations between Zecho and Hungary.

You may inform Hungarian Govt of US views set forth above.

Dept has been reluctant to take further initiative in this question without having more detailed and reliable info. If discreet investigation could be made in frontier area, preferably by member of your or Gen Key’s staff, Dept would find report thereon most useful.

Byrnes
  1. Same as telegram 316, October 19, 3 p.m. to Praha, supra.
  2. See footnote 29, p. 936.