864.00/9–547
Memorandum of Conversation, by Robert M. McKisson of the Division of Southern European Affairs
Mr. Cecil1 called at his request this morning with regard to the recent Hungarian elections. Mr. Cecil said that it was the impression of the Foreign Office that Mr. Helm, British Political Representative in Budapest,2 had arrived at somewhat different conclusions regarding the prevalence of abuses in the voting than had Minister Chapin. Mr. Helm had reported, Mr. Cecil said, that the Hungarian election proceedings had been unexpectedly free, that the abuses which had taken place had done the Communists and the Soviets more harm than good and had aroused, and to some extent unified, anti-Communist opinion. Mr. Helm had also expressed the opinion that further favorable developments in the situation would not be helped by official intervention on the part of the British Government. Mr. Cecil explained that the Foreign Office desired to keep in close step with the Department in the matter of any attitude or action to be taken with respect to the Hungarian elections and indicated that he would appreciate information as to the Department’s views on the conduct and results of the elections. He indicated that the Foreign Office felt that it might be wise to refrain from any formal statement or action in protest against the elections and to let the anti-Communist elements in Hungary stand [Page 365] on their own feet in this instance. Mr. Cecil left with me, for the Department’s information, copies of two telegrams3 from Mr. Helm in Budapest on the Hungarian election situation.
I informed Mr. Cecil that the Department was in the process of getting full details concerning the elections in Hungary. I said that it was our impression, on the basis of information thus far received, that abuses in voting had been widespread and flagrant, particularly in the matter of disfranchisements and multiple voting, but that, in any event, the present show of independence by the other parties against the Communists was rather encouraging. I thanked him for the copies of Mr. Helm’s reports and added that we would try to give the Embassy at an early date a more definite indication of our attitude toward the elections and resulting developments.