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

864.00/11–2147: Telegram

The Minister in Hungary (Chapin) to the Secretary of State

secret   urgent

Budapest, November 21, 1947—3 p. m.

1868. Electoral court in decision announced today nullified all mandates won by Pfeiffer Independence Party in August election and Communist press reported that as consequence warrants for “preliminary arrests” four Independence Party deputies had been issued.¹

At about noon Ferenc Barkányi, one of ousted Independence Party deputies from Szeged for whose arrest warrant had been issued on unspecified charges, appeared at Consulate with his wife stating he was in danger for his life and pleading for protection from arrest. He was informed asylum could not be granted him under circumstances whereupon his agitation became so great he declined to leave Consulate premises.

I then sent Legation officer to interview him in course of which Barkányi stated that Independence Party alternate deputy Robert Gaál, who is now in hands political police, had apparently signed confession in which he stated it was Barkányi who had arranged with American Legation for Gaál’s escape from Hungary (mytel 1867²) and this was only knowledge he had of possible pretext for his arrest apart from current violent campaign of Communists totally to eliminate opposition.

After consultation with me Legation officer informed Barkányi that Legation regretted it was unable to give him any assistance or asylum. This was explained to him on basis Legation’s inability to support asylum on grounds generally recognized international law and inability to render effective assistance with consequence that he would inevitably be apprehended at some future date in which case his situation and that of his fellow party members would have been immeasurably worsened by his appeal to Legation for assistance.³

Barkányi who had been in extremely nervous condition since he has apparently been endeavoring to avoid detectives who have been reportedly following him for 4 days, pulled himself together at this point and stating he was in a nervous condition which precluded clear thought, requested advice as to what course action to follow. Legation officer advised him to leave Consulate through side door immediately and to apply for assistance at whatever source appeared available to him including Catholic Church, which had during German occupation rendered such assistance. He departed at 2 p.m., was apparently unhindered.

This is not first such case presented to Legation in recent days, Legation info officer having received call from Independence Party organizer from Szeged district on November 19 after office hours when individual asserted he and seven other Independence Party officials at Szeged district had been summarily arrested few days previously and that although he had escaped from prison six of his companions, he claimed, had been executed by political police. Legation information officer declined to grant him asylum.

There can be no doubt Legation will be faced with additional cases along lines foregoing in immediate future and for my guidance I should appreciate Department’s urgent telegraphic comment and advice on foregoing.⁴

Chapin

1. Zoltán Pfeiffer, the leader of the Hungarian Independence Party, escaped from Hungary into the United States zone of occupation of Austria earlier in November. Telegram 1880, November 22, from Budapest, not printed, transmitted the text of a note from the Hungarian Foreign Ministry protesting against the assistance given by American authorities to Pfeiffer to travel to the United States as well as against Pfeiffer’s interviews with Department of State officers (864.00/11–2247).
2. Not printed.
3. In telegram 1869, November 21, from Budapest, not printed, Minister Chapin listed the following grounds on which he had made his extremely reluctant decision to deny asylum to Barkányi: 1) there was no threat of mob violence; 2) there was no immediate threat to Barkányi’s life; 3) there was no way of getting Barkányi out of the country or to another haven of safety; 4) the granting of asylum in this case would undoubtedly have led to many other demands for asylum; 5) the granting of asylum would confirm allegations being made in the Communist press; 6) the granting of asylum would compromise and further endanger other Independence Party deputies (864.00/11–2147).
4. Telegram 1189, November 24, to Budapest, not printed, stated that while fully appreciating the plight of Hungarian opposition leaders, the Department concurred in the action taken by Minister Chapin and desired him to continue to be guided by past instructions in all matters of asylum (864.00/11–2147).