Foreign Relations of the United States, 1947, Eastern Europe; The Soviet Union, Volume IV

740.00119 Control (Hungary) /9–2547

The Chief of the United States Representation on the Allied Control Commission for Hungary (Weems) to the Acting Chairman of the Commission (Sviridov)¹

secret

[Budapest,] September 15, 1947.

Dear General Sviridov: In view of the approaching dissolution of the Allied Control Commission for Hungary,² I desire to place on record the views of my Government regarding the activities of the Allied Control Commission for Hungary during the Armistice regime.

Throughout the period of the operation of the Allied Control Commission for Hungary, directives have been issued in the name of the Allied Control Commission either on the initiative of the Soviet element of the Allied Control Commission or under orders of the Allied (Soviet) High Command without my knowledge or approval, and at times in spite of my protest. In certain instances my requests for action have been refused or disregarded by the Soviet element of the Allied Control Commission. As a consequence, rights and interests of the United States and its nationals as well as those of nations not represented on the Allied Control Commission have been jeopardized or impaired.

It is my Government’s position that directives, decisions, or actions taken without the concurrence of the American Representative cannot be regarded as having foreclosed the situation with respect to rights and interests of the United States and its nationals or as to the obligations of the United States towards other powers under the Armistice or the Treaty of Peace. Except in those instances where my Government has signified its acceptance of such decisions and actions, my Government reserves the right to reopen pertinent questions under whatever procedure, established by the Treaty of Peace or otherwise, may be appropriate.

A copy of this communication has been sent to the American Legation in Budapest for its information to serve as a basis for appropriate action in the future. A copy has also been sent to my British colleague.

With assurances [etc.]

Geo. H. Weems

1. The source text was transmitted to the Department of State as an enclosure to despatch 3454, September 25, from Budapest, not printed. The despatch described this letter as General Weems’ final communication to General Sviridov. General Weems’ letter was based upon instructions contained in War Department telegram WARX 97667, May 8, to Budapest, not printed, a copy of which was also included in the despatch under reference.

   In a letter dated September 18, General Sviridov replied to General Weems as follows:

   “In reply to your letter of 15 September, I find it necessary to state that I cannot agree with the point of view expounded in the above-mentioned letter concerning the activity of the Allied Control Commission, since this point of view does not represent the true state of affairs. I have to observe in this connection that the work of the Allied Control Commission was conducted in accordance with the Armistice Agreement with Hungary, signed by the representatives of the Soviet Union, the United States and Great Britain.”

2. Upon the deposit of ratifications of the Treaty of Peace with Hungary in Moscow on September 15, the Treaty went into effect, the armistice regime ended, and the Allied Control Commission went out of existence.