Foreign Relations of the United States, 1946, Eastern Europe, The Soviet Union, Volume VI

864.412/5–3146: Telegram

The United States Political Adviser for Germany (Murphy) to the Secretary of State

restricted

Berlin, May 31, 1946—9 p.m.
[Received June 1—10:10 a.m.]

1392. Refourdes 2113, February 27, 1946 and note from American Mission to the Vatican dated April 30, 1946,⁸ concerning the request of the Holy See on behalf of the Catholic people of Hungary for restitution to the Church of the Crown of St. Stephen.

Investigation indicates that Crown in question was not removed from Hungary by force but was turned over to the American Army for safekeeping by Hungarian authorities. Consequently it does not fall into the category of objects restitutable as defined by quadripartite agreement. Hence its unilateral disposition by US authorities would in no way violate quadripartite restitution agreement. After consultation with R.D. and R Division OMGUS it is suggested that matter be handled in one of three ways:

(1) Consign it to the Holy See for safekeeping until such time as it can be safely returned to Hungary. Note verbale from the Vatican April 25 states that Cardinal Mindszenty, Primate of Hungary, recommends this action.

(2) Remove Crown to the US for trusteeship and safekeeping. In view of purported great political and religious influence and significance of Crown with Hungarian people, physical location in US may prove advantageous for future bargaining or return at propitious time. Removal to US might be made with agreement or knowledge of Hungarian Primate but does entail possibility of public repercussions similar to those resulting from shipment of German paintings to US.

(3) Keep Crown in military collecting point in Germany until it can be safely returned to Hungarian Church.

Department’s advice desired.⁹

Sent to Department as 1392, repeated to Rome as 31.

Murphy

8. In a note of December 22, 1945, to the Assistant to the Personal Representative of President Truman to Pope Pius XII, the Vatican Secretariat of State, on behalf of the Catholic people of Hungary, requested that the Hungarian crown might either be returned to Church authorities in Budapest or entrusted to the Vatican for safe keeping. Copies of the note were subsequently sent to the Department as well as to Murphy in Berlin on January 22, 1946. (864.404/1–2246) Despatch 2113, February 27, 1946, from Berlin, transmitted a note which Murphy had sent to the President’s Personal Representative to Pope Pius XII stating that restitution to Hungary was not being made, but that the Vatican might be invited to present any available information regarding the history of the ownership of the crown and its presence in Germany (864.412/2–2746). The Vatican Secretariat of State presented such information in a note verbale of April 25, a copy of which was transmitted to Murphy on April 30, 1946 (846.404/4–3046).
9. Telegram 812, August 14, 1946, to Budapest, repeated to Berlin and Rome, stated that the Department viewed unfavorably alternatives 2 and 3 posed by American authorities in Germany. It was the Department’s view that final disposition of the Crown and other insignia should be in accordance with the wishes of the Hungarian Government, and Schoenfeld was asked to ascertain the current views of the Hungarian Government in the matter. (864.412/5–3146)