711.6427/4–2546: Telegram

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

restricted

774. I am delivering under today’s date the following note to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Hungary.86

“I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of Your Excellency’s note No. 434/POL. 1946 of March 1, 1946 replying to my Govt’s request for interim operational aviation rights contained in my note of February 26, 1946 and informing me that, while the Hungarian Govt [Page 290] is prepared to give favorable consideration to my Govt’s request and would be willing to begin technical discussions, it is not in position, under existing circumstances, to dispose freely in matters connected with air traffic.87

The United States Govt is informed that on March 29, 1946 the Hungarian Govt concluded a civil aviation agreement with the Govt of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics which provides for the establishment of a jointly owned Hungarian Soviet civil air transport company to participate in domestic and international air traffic. The US Govt interprets this action as signifying that, since the despatch of Your Excellency’s note under reference, the Hungarian Govt reconsidered its position and concluded that the existence of the armistice regime does not preclude the making of interim commercial agreements between Hungary and the governments represented on the ACC for Hungary. This accords with the views of the US Govt insofar as the conclusion by Hungary of commercial agreements of a non-excessive [exclusive] character is concerned.

The US Govt is informed further that on March 29, 1946, the Govts of Hungary and the Soviet Union signed a protocol which grants landing and operational rights on and over Hungarian territory to the civil air fleet of the Soviet Union on a nonreciprocal basis.

In view of the foregoing and in accord with the Hungarian Govt’s declaration of adherence to the most-favored-nation provisions of the US Hungarian treaty of friendship commerce and consular rights of June 24, 1925,88 communicated to my Govt in Your Excellency’s note No. 145/RES/BF 1945 of December 20, 1945,89 my Govt concludes that the Govt of Hungary is prepared to grant similar rights to American aircraft.

I have the honor, on behalf of my Govt, to renew the request for interim operational rights contained in my note of February 26, 1946 and should appreciate the courtesy of a prompt reply.”

Repeated Moscow as No. 179, London as 199 and Bern for Deak as 54.

Schoenfeld
  1. Delivery of the note that follows was authorized by the Department in telegrams 320, March 28, and 397, April 17, to Budapest (711.6427/3–346 and 4–246, respectively).
  2. Neither the American note of February 26 nor the Hungarian reply of March 1 is printed.
  3. Foreign Relations, 1925, vol. ii, p. 341.
  4. Not printed.