Caserta Consulate Files for 1946, Lot 52 F 2
The Chief of the United States Representation on the Allied Control Commission for Hungary (Weems) to the War Department
Z–3748. Reference our Z–3683. Several more letters from minor officials in the Reparations Office demanding this or that were received by ourselves and British, so a meeting was requested on ACC level and held today, 14 August, with General Sviridov, Prime Minister Nagy, General Edgcumbe, and myself together with Hungarian Finance Minister, Minister of Supply, Chief of the Economic Council, General Levushkin, and other members of the American, British, and Soviet Staffs.
Prime Minister in outline stated that economies should be effected and requested permission to go into detail. I objected, as did General Edgcumbe, and we both stated that before any discussion would be held, Hungarian Government must agree that Article 11 of Armistice is in full force and effect. We vigorously protested against discourtesy of minor officials making demands and issuing orders to the missions and stated that our requirements had been modest and we had always exercised rigid control, and that we were not going to be dictated to at this late stage.
Before permitting any further discussion we demanded and received assurance that supplies and services would be continued in status quo ante before we would examine their proposal. Whereupon we heard their case which amounted to the request that supplies should be by cash allotment rather than in kind. We stated this was not acceptable [Page 332] but that we would receive any proposals in writing and would then discuss the latter further. This was agreed to.
It was evident from discussion that Soviet Chief of Staff had backed up or instigated some of the demands which were stated at meeting to be “mistake”. General Sviridov summed up the matter and directed the Hungarian Government [apparent garble] make any changes agreed to in writing by ACC Headquarters. It was apparent from meeting that Mr. Vas, Chief of the Economic Council, Communist, had not informed Prime Minister of his actions and while he may attempt to make further trouble, it is noted that matter is settled to our satisfaction.
WX9734772 was received after meeting, but from above it will be noted that we had followed line set forth therein.
- Telegram WX 97347, August 13, from the War Department to General Weems, authorized Weems to express the opinion that American requirements for the supply of the mission to Allied Control Commission were modest. Weems was further directed to convey the United States Government’s expression of strong displeasure if the terms of article 11 of the Hungarian Armistice, providing for the supply of the Allied missions to the A.C.C., were not observed.↩