711.6427/3–546: Telegram
The Minister in Hungary (Schoenfeld) to the Secretary of State
priority
[Received March 9—11:22 p.m.]
455. Prime Minister asked Civil Air Attaché Deak to call morning [Page 268] of March 4 for discussion of US request for air rights.36 Prime Minister stated that as result of my observations on Hungarian reply (mytel 433, March 237) he instructed Foreign Minister38 to amplify reply indicating Hungarian Govt accedes in principle to our request. He further stated everything is being done to include in Soviet-Hungarian air agreement a provision reserving rights of other nations for equality and non-discriminatory treatment.
Prime Minister stated our proposal greatly helped elements in government opposing long term exclusive concessions to Soviets or any other foreign power, but claimed negotiations with Soviets would have taken different course had a proposal indicating our interest in Hungary from civil aviation point of view been received sooner. He expressed fear that Soviet pressure may force Hungarian Govt’s hands in this respect as well as in other agreements with which, according to Prime Minister, Soviet seeks to create favored position for herself by assuring direct or vicarious control over all important phases of Hungarian production.
Prime Minister expressed grave apprehension over apparent lack of US and British interest in Hungary’s fate, which he claims makes Hungarian Government’s position to resist Soviet pressure extremely weak. In support of Hungarian desire for independence he pointed out that while Rumania accepted collaboration pact promptly, Hungary delayed ratification for 5 months without sign from US or British whether or not Hungary’s coordination into Soviet economy is a concern to them.39
Prime Minister placed special emphasis on American failure to counteract Communist propaganda here that external Hungarian assets [Page 269] in Austria will not be returned and will be delivered to Austrians. He implied actual return of assets is of less importance than American denial of current reports that Hungarian property is being released for sale in Austria.
Prime Minister concluded by saying our request for air rights was first indication of affirmative US interest was much appreciated as such and gave him needed support in effort to resist objectionable features of proposed Soviet Hungarian air agreement. He stated that he and most of his cabinet will do everything in their power to render passage of designated US air carrier through Hungary possible. He suggested that if existing airdromes should pass under control of Soviet Hungarian company, as foreseen in draft-annex to proposed agreement, an entirely new airdrome not covered by agreement, could be built according to our specifications to meet US standards.
Careful investigation by Civil Air Attaché revealed that no airport in Hungary would in its present condition be suitable for landing and take-off of 4 engine aircraft, (ReDeptel 178, Feb 19, 6 p.m.40), under CAA regulations and no airdrome is adequately equipped with radio and navigation air facilities satisfying our operational safety standards. He will send detailed report on airports.
- Telegram 221, February 1, 1946, from Budapest, reported that a Soviet-Hungarian aviation agreement was about to be concluded and asked whether it would not be appropriate to present to the Hungarian Government a proposal for a bilateral air agreement between the United States and Hungary (711.6427/2–146). Telegram 178, February 19, to Budapest, instructed that a note be delivered to the Hungarian Government requesting interim operational aviation rights (711.6427/2–146). A note to this effect was delivered to the Hungarian Foreign Ministry on February 26. Telegram 431, March 1, from Budapest, transmitted the text of a Hungarian Foreign Ministry note of March 1 which stated that while the Hungarian Government was prepared to give favorable consideration to the American request and would be willing to begin technical discussions, it was not in a position to dispose freely in matters connected with air traffic (711.6427/3–146).↩
- Not printed.↩
- János Gyöngyösi.↩
- An agreement between the Soviet Union and Rumania concerning economic collaboration was signed in Moscow on May 8, 1945, and was ratified on July 16, 1945. The agreement between the Soviet Union and Hungary concerning economic collaboration was signed in Moscow on August 27, 1945; it was ratified by Hungary on December 20, 1945, and by the Soviet Union on December 26, 1945. For descriptions of the Hungarian and Rumanian economic collaboration agreements, see Department of State Bulletin, September 1, 1946, pp. 394 and 396, respectively.↩
- Not printed, but see footnote 36, p. 268.↩