864.00/5–2947: Telegram
The Minister in Hungary (Schoenfeld) to the Secretary of State
899. Communiqué reported in mytel 893 today2 has caused less consternation in political circles than the story behind it and rumors [Page 300] connected with it. President National Assembly told me this morning he had spoken with Prime Minister Nagy at Lucerne, Switzerland during last night and Prime Minister was returning to Budapest immediately, probably arriving tomorrow. Varga said alarming rumors were in circulation in political circles including rumors that Prime Minister would be obliged to resign because Kovács’ testimony implicates him in alleged conspiracy and that Nagy might be later arrested along with Varga himself, Foreign Minister Gyöngyösi and other leading Smallholders. Prime Minister’s personal secretary, Dr. Kapocs, had been arrested last night by political police and all files of Prime Minister’s office seized.
I asked Varga when Prime Minister Nagy had requested surrender of Béla Kovács to Hungarian authorities and he answered he did not know precisely but he believed it had been personal request by Nagy to Sviridov as long as 2 months ago. Varga added that according to reliable information Béla Kovács was in exceedingly bad nervous condition, intimating this was result of treatment he had received during Soviet imprisonment. He gave me to understand that in these circumstances testimony given by Kovács, to which reference is made in communiqué reported in mytel 893 today, could hardly prove that Kovács was any more guilty of “conspiracy” than Varga himself would be or other leading Smallholders.
In my conversation with Deputy Prime Minister Rákosi this morning he made no allusion to communiqué or latest point development beyond saying that traditional forces of reaction were still “very tough” in Hungary and were unwilling to “surrender”. He seemed to be preoccupied but unwilling to discuss situation in detail.
Speculation in political circles is that culminating phase of Communist offensive will now begin for decision of question of control of this country’s power to end of occupation. Whether this view is correct remains to be seen. Szakasits last night stated to my informant that new national election could not be avoided but that it would be “clean and unfettered”.
Dept please repeat to Moscow as 94.
- Due to a delay in transmission, this telegram was not received in the Department of State until June 2, 3:28 p. m.↩
- Not printed; it transmitted the
following communiqué issued by the Hungarian Government on the
evening of May 28:
“Extraordinary Cabinet council was held Wednesday night, Deputy Prime Minister Rákosi presiding over session. Cabinet council discussed a note delivered by Chairman of ACC, General Sviridov. Note states that Prime Minister Ferenc Nagy’s request to hand over Béla Kovács to Hungarian authorities cannot be fulfilled because competent Soviet authorities have not yet finished investigation. However, the General places evidence given by Béla Kovács and by witnesses heard in his case at disposal of Hungarian Government for purpose of using them at trial of participating anti-Republic conspiracy. Cabinet council decided to ask Prime Minister Ferenc Nagy to interrupt his vacation and return home.” (864.00/5–2947)
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