864.00/8–1547: Telegram
The Chargé in the United Kingdom (Clark) to the Secretary of State
4411. We had long discussion with Wallinger and Watson yesterday evening on Hungary, particularly regarding issuance of joint statement by US and UK that discussions were taking place. (See Embtel [Page 359] 4360, August 121) Foreign Office is willing and desirous that statement be issued along parallel lines but thinks they should not be in identical language. Foreign Office would like to see statements issued middle of next week, so that their full effect would be felt in Hungary before the elections.
In so far as taking case to UN is concerned, these officials were cautious but did not exclude advantages to be gained thereby. They said in confidence that “higher-ups” in Foreign Office were not convinced that it would be advantageous, linking it up with the admission of Eire and Portugal to UN—the train of thought being that if Hungarian case were presented, Hungary would obviously be ineligible for membership and USSR would oppose entry of Eire and Portugal.2
We agreed that if we let it be known before elections that the problem would be brought before UN, it might inspirit the now cowed Hungarian masses. The question of anti-Communist leaders becoming inspired to foolish acts was raised, but in this case it is known that the highly individualistic Hungarian peasants are almost solidly against Communism, and their leaders would take their cue from the people and not from any action or statements by the US or UK.
In conclusion, officials said that Foreign Office could not find any specific appropriate article of UN charter under which Hungarian situation could be effectively raised, adding that action under article 14 is excluded by [as?] this article is very vague. They wondered if the Department had any ideas on this subject.
Sent Department 4411; Eepeated Budapest 82.
- Not printed.↩
- On August 18 and 21 and again on September 29, 30, and October 1, the United Nations Security Council considered Hungary’s application for membership in the United Nations. In each case, Hungary failed to be recommended for membership by the Security Council. For documentation regarding the attitude of the United States on the admission of new members to the United Nations in 1947, see volume i .↩