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

501.BB/9–2547: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the United States Mission at the United Nations in New York

secret   urgent

Washington, September 25, 1947—7 p. m.

422. Assistant Secretary Armour today received former Prime Minister Nagy of Hungary¹ who stated he was going to New York this afternoon to join his colleagues the Bulgarian Agrarian politician Dimitrov² and the Croat peasant leader Machec³ in an attempt, to interest several UN Delegations including Cuba, Brazil and Australia to introduce in this session of the Assembly a Resolution based on Article 14 raising the question of Soviet indirect aggression in Eastern Europe. The Cuban Ambassador has apparently given them an indication that he is receptive but made it clear that he would be reluctant to introduce so controversial a question unless assured in advance of substantial support from other Delegations. Nagy requested that the USDel not oppose any such resolution should it be put forward and even asked if it might not be possible for the USDel to indicate discreetly to these delegations that we would give it support. Mr. Armour replied that although he was sympathetic he could of course give no opinion or encouragement in advance of knowing exactly what the three Agrarians were proposing. Nagy promised us a copy tomorrow.⁴

We feel that in view of the surcharged agenda of this Assembly and of the number of important items put down by the USDel which are obviously construed by USSR as inimical to its interest, it would be unfortunate for this additional and highly controversial subject to be brought before the Assembly at this session. Our previous thinking has been that problems of clandestine aggression might more suitably be dealt with by the proposed interim commission.

At the same time, and in light of the President’s statement characterizing the change in power in Hungary as an “outrage”, we do not feel that the Delegation should openly oppose a resolution along the lines suggested by Nagy, Dimitrov and Machec. You are authorized, however, in private conversation with other delegations to intimate our feeling that, in view of the technical legal grounds on which the Russians might base a convincing if spurious case, and in view of the other important matters pending before this session, we should not be unhappy if the question of Russian covert aggression against Hungary and other Southeastern European states were left over for the interim commission.

Lovett

1. A memorandum of conversation dealing with this meeting, prepared by Frederick T. Merrill of the Division of Southern European Affairs and dated September 25, is filed separately under 501.BB/9–2547.
2. Dr. George M. Dimitrov, head of the Bulgarian National Agrarian Union, in exile.
3. Dr. Vladko Maček, head of the Croatian Peasant Party, in exile.
4. A copy of the paper under reference here, a communication from the Central Committee of the International Peasant Union to the President of the General Assembly of the United Nations, is attached to the memorandum of conversation cited in footnote 1, above. The communication was transmitted to the General Assembly by the International Peasant Union on September 28, but no action was taken on it.