711.6427/5–2146: Telegram
The Minister in Hungary (Schoenfeld) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 22—1:20 p.m.]
938. Remytel 903, May 15.3 Note from FonOff quoted in my 937, May 21,4 resulted from Civil Air Attaché Deak’s inquiry in conversation [Page 298] with Prime Minister May 20 re formal reply promised last week on civil aviation question.
Note was delivered in person by Molnar, in charge of Anglo-American section of FonOff who apologized to Deak for content and character of note against which he and other high FonOff officials protested in vain to Foreign Minister. Latter ordered Molnar to deliver note without change using draft apparently prepared by Foreign Minister himself.
Civil Air Attaché informed Molnar that reply was, in his opinion, entirely inadequate and in no way substantiated what Prime Minister had told him orally. Deak added that he regretted to see signature of Foreign Minister of present regime under note reminiscent of [note] General Sztojay’s4a puppet regime might have sent. He concluded by stating that, making all allowances for difficulties caused by foreign occupation, he would have hoped for more courage from Hungarian Cabinet officer.
Present note confirms views expressed in mytel 903, May 15 that nothing more can be accomplished for time being re US landing and operation rights in Hungary. Situation may change if occupation army is withdrawn or reduced or if US considers matter of sufficient importance to take determined stand with Moscow and impress Soviet Govt with necessity of altering its present policy.
So long as we continue to acquiesce in arbitrary action of Soviets in excluding our aircraft from their zone of influence, no other results can be expected from Govts controlled by USSR in this area.
Sent Department, repeated Moscow as 260, to Bern as 69, to Paris as 156, and Berlin as 62.
- Not printed.↩
- Not printed. The note from the Foreign Ministry, dated May 20, read as follows: “In reply to your note 168, dated April 25 I have the honor to communicate that due to the fact Hungary is still being occupied by the troops of the Red Army, our view expressed in note 434 dated March 1 is still maintained, the Govt of the Hungarian Republic is not in the position to change its attitude towards the problem concerned. This communication does not interfere with note 145 dated December 20, 1945 i.e.: The Hungarian Govt continues to recognize the principle of the most-favored-nation.” (711.6427/5–2146) For text of the American note of April 25, see telegram 774, April 25, from Budapest, p. 289.↩
- Lt. Gen. Döme Sztojay, Hungarian Prime Minister, March–August 1944; executed in 1946 for war crimes in Hungary.↩