711.64/6–2846: Telegram

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

secret

1210. Prime Minister called this morning to express thanks for hospitality and sympathetic interest of US Govt during recent visit of Hungarian Delegation to Washington. He outlined substance of American memo handed Delegation June 14 (Deptel 585, June 1528) and reiterated his fear Hungarian Govt would not be permitted to give desired assurances re aviation matter. He said that as soon as local political crisis ends he will bring up again aviation matter and information question. He considered Dept’s position re restitution of watercraft “very clever” since conditions laid down for return would preclude Hungarian Soviet Navigation Company taking them over.

Nagy said he received impression Dept was favorably disposed towards fair settlement of Transylvania question but that he learned from Bevin and Molotov Soviet position had stiffened since his visit [Page 317] to Moscow in April. This was due, he believed, to desire of USSR to assure Groza’s29 success in Rumanian election and had suggested to his mind that decision in Hungary to hold national election last fall had perhaps been premature. He does not anticipate satisfactory adjustment of Transylvania problem before peace settlement (mytel 1204, June 2730) although Hungarian Government will endeavor to secure favorable action on petition already made to CFM for reconsideration. On matter of Hungarian minority in Slovakia he said Czecho, being one of United Nations, he did not raise boundary question and at London and Paris discussed only minority matter. Bevin, he said, favored inclusion of minority protection clauses in all peace treaties.31

To my query whether there had been discussion in Washington of internal political situation Hungary, Nagy answered in negative. Since his return he had been confronted with new Leftist demands (mytel 1179, June 2530) although Smallholder’s demands, which had been accepted just before his departure for Washington enabling him to leave at that time, had not yet been implemented. He was still convinced present situation in Hungary requires use of all constructive forces and he therefore remained believer in coalition principle. He was, however, determined to carry out mandate of voters at last year’s national election even at cost of coalition and his own political position and would make no further concession. He took very grave view, saying if coalition breaks down civil war will begin in Hungary.

Nagy reiterated appreciation of courtesies and generous attentions shown him and delegation remarking in reply to query, as Gyöngyösi did yesterday, (mytel 1202, June 2732) that Rakosi had been unable to make comparisions between USSR and US unfavorable to latter. He said Rakosi had been treated without discrimination by Americans and had behaved very correctly during visit.33

Sent Dept repeated USdel Paris 221, London 251, Moscow 237.

Schoenfeld
  1. Same as telegram 2875, p. 314.
  2. Petru Groza, Rumanian Prime Minister.
  3. Not printed.
  4. In telegram 6229, June 22, from London, W. Averell Harriman, the Ambassador in the United Kingdom, reported on an hour-long conversation with Prime Minister Nagy who described his great satisfaction with his visit to Washington and expressed the hope that the United States would continue to “take an interest in the Open Door Policy in the Danube Basin and in the political and economic reconstruction of that area.” (711.64/6–2246)
  5. Not printed.
  6. Not printed; it reported that Foreign Minister Gyöngyösi had expressed the gratitude of the Hungarian delegation on their reception in the United States (711.64/6–2746).
  7. In a memorandum of June 26, 1946, Acting Director of the Office of European Affairs Hickerson recorded a conversation with Hungarian Minister Szegedy-Maszák. The Minister, who had called to express appreciation for the reception for the Hungarian delegation in the United States, commented that Deputy Prime Minister Rákosi appeared to be disappointed at the success of the visit and tried hard to find something to criticize everywhere he went. (711.64/6–2646).