864.00/6–147: Telegram
The Minister in Switzerland (Harrison) to the Secretary of State
niact
497. Legation officer1 saw Nagy this afternoon compliance Deptel 703, May 31.2 Nagy confirmed resignation but will release resignation [Page 302] letter only upon arrival his younger son at Buchs expected June 2, noon.3 Letter then to be taken to Budapest by Communist secretary Hungarian Legation, Bern. Following background is summary resignation development:4
Nagy came to Switzerland for holiday May 14 according to plans announced Tildy and Hungarian Government day following conclusion March 11 inter-party agreement ending 6 months crisis. He never thought of going into exile proved by leaving son in Hungary. Before departure he requested Russians to release Kovács to Hungarian authorities.5 On May 28 he was advised in Locarno Soviets denied request on ground investigation incomplete but confessions by Kovács allegedly implicating Nagy were made available. Nagy was urged to return at once Hungary by Tildy, Gyöngyösi and Balogh6 and Nagy agreed. May 29 morning just before leaving for border Gordon, Hungarian Minister Bern, advised Nagy of Gyongyosi’s telephoned suggestion under no condition leave Switzerland, but await Mihályfy being sent at once. Upon Gordon’s inquiry Tildy stated his concurrence in this suggestion whereupon Nagy came to Bern. May 30, 5 a.m. Balogh phoned Smallholders Political Commission suggested Nagy inform Tildy from Switzerland of his resignation in interest of political peace and assist democratic evolution even though innocent. Gordon asked Balogh whether Nagy could safely return Budapest received evasive answer. May 30, noon, Rákosi phoned Gordon demanding immediate settlement crisis. Afternoon Nagy telephoned Balogh he [Page 303] unaware nature accusations but whatever they may be they are groundless. However he does not wish hinder solution crisis and resigns as Premier on certain conditions. Nagy emphasized no parliamentary action but conspiracy Russian occupation authorities and local Communists forced his resignation.7
Nagy informed by Legation officer Hungarian situation under urgent study by Department.
Nagy plans remain Nyon, Switzerland for time being due repeated warnings from friends in Budapest in last 24 hours. Is practically without funds. Upon application asylum Swiss Government official emphasized consideration is conditioned upon his solemn promise absolutely to refrain from political activities and pronouncements whatever while here. Nagy stated his future plans depend on whether he forced remain in Switzerland indefinitely and “keep his mouth shut” or whether he will be given opportunity go to US or another non-neutral free country where he can freely tell what Soviets and Communists have been doing in Hungary during his year and half premiership.
Gordon told Legation officer he was requested last night by Rákosi (without Tildy’s knowledge) to return Budapest at once “for consultation”, that he will not obey such instruction and so informed Tildy.8
Foregoing given in strictest confidence since slightest indiscretion could be expected result in immediate expulsion of both Nagy and Gordon from Switzerland and their forced return to Hungary where their safety would be obviously in jeopardy.
This message not repeated Budapest.
- Francis Deak, Civil Air Attaché at the Legation in Bern.↩
- On the evening of May 30, the Hungarian Telegraph Agency carried a report that Prime Minister Nagy had gone to the Hungarian Legation in Bern and resigned. There was widespread coverage in the Swiss press on May 31 regarding Nagy’s alleged resignation. Telegram 703, May 31, to Bern, not printed, requested that an account of Nagy’s resignation be obtainted from Nagy himself (864.00/5–3147).↩
- A copy of Prime Minister Nagy’s official letter of resignation, dated June 1, was transmitted as an enclosure to despatch 15194, June 4, from Bern, neither printed (864.00/6–447). On June 1, Lajos Dinnyés was named the new Prime Minister of Hungary. Dinnyés, a member of the Smallholders Party, had been Minister of Defense since March.↩
- Additional details of Attaché Deak’s conversation with Nagy were set forth in a report of June 2, transmitted to the Department as an enclosure to despatch 15186, June 3, from Bern, neither printed (864.00/6–347). Nagy described the circumstances attending his resignation in still greater detail in a statement to Department of State officers, dated June 22, not printed (864.00B/7–3147). For his own published account of these events, see Nagy, The Struggle Behind the Iron Curtain, pp. 409–426.↩
- According to telegram 905, May 31, noon, from Budapest, not printed, Hungarian Foreign Minister Gyöngyösi told Minister Schoenfeld that Nagy’s request for the surrender of Kovács had been made following an intimation by Soviet authorities that such a request would be favorably regarded (864.00/5–3147).↩
- István Balogh, State Secretary in the Hungarian Prime Minister’s Office and Acting Secretary General of the Smallholders Party.↩
- Deak’s supplementary report
on his conversation with Nagy, dated June 2, (see footnote 4 above)
adds the following additional information on this point:
“Nagy believes that the whole crisis was carefully plotted and timed between Sviridov, Pushkin and Rákosi. According to him, the Russians and the Communists knew at the time of his departure from Hungary he being ‘implicated’ through Kovács’ ‘confessions’ but they did allow him to depart for two reasons: (a) in anticipation of Minister Schoenfeld’s imminent departure which—so his enemies figured—would handicap prompt intervention on the part of the U.S.; (b) as a matter of strategy—namely, they were fearful of possible reaction to a repetition of the Kovács affair (e.g. Nagy’s arrest) and figured that Nagy being out of Hungary, they could manipulate the press according to their own taste and make it appear that Nagy ‘escaped’.” (864.00/6–347)
↩ - On June 4, Minister Gordon announced that he would no longer accept instructions from the Hungarian Government as it was not representative of the Hungarian people.↩