864.404/4–2648: Telegram
The Minister in Hungary (Chapin) to the Secretary of State
688. This morning on arrival at office I found waiting for me English speaking priest who identified himself as bearer of message from Cardinal1 who he said had been most anxious to discuss with me the present situation in Hungary but for obvious reasons felt that any personal interview this juncture would inevitably become known to Communists.
Father Olaszlo Magyar said that Cardinal was very much concerned over recent intensification of the Communist attack on Catholic Church and was in a quandary as to what advice to give his clergy and communicants. Cardinal had the impression that even moderate Communists such as Rakosi were losing power and that direction was now undertaken by Gero, a fanatic on direct order from Moscow. The Communists attempted to make appear that mass of Catholic laity opposed to clergy. Communists also trying in every way to split church clergy but so far able influence only one bishop, Banasz. Communists were openly boasting that in course of summer all instruction would be taken out of hands of Sisters and teaching clergy and given over to “democratic” laymen. In last few days confirmed reports had reached Cardinal that students being dismissed from state middle schools on grounds of too close Catholic affiliation. He cited case one small town where three boys dismissed for attending daily mass and four others belonging to Congregationists (sodality) of Mary. In universities and technical schools there had been officially inspired incitement to sexual immorality going so far as even to provide special rooms as a conscious attempt to break down religious morality. He cited several instances.
Great pressure still being brought on church to make some kind of temporary agreement whereupon the attacks would be suspended. Contrary to belief circularized in newspapers Cardinal glad to report that Calvinist Church had associated itself with Catholics in declining reach any agreement with civil authorities over control their schools and Lutheran Church, although it had first shown signs of ceding, had also recently stiffened. Nevertheless Cardinal aware his responsibilities [Page 327] felt that he must make some decision in immediate future whether to maintain stand on basis of Christian morality or whether to temporize. In making this decision he would like my advice and that my government.
I told Father Magyar that as he could appreciate it was a very difficult question and one in which I had no right to advise even if I had knowledge on which to base reply. When Father Magyar said that what Cardinal really meant was that he wanted to know whether in my opinion he should prepare for a short or a long term accommodation with Communists since apparently war was inevitable. I told him that I did not personally share the opinion that war was inevitable, I said that I felt I could go so far as to say that US certainly would never attack first and to best my knowledge and belief Soviet Government itself did not wish war but that of course there was always a possibility that some irresponsible persons might bring about a prestige situation which would have serious results. I then added that of course both Cardinal and I could have but a limited view of world picture as one could see only a very small fragment here in Hungary. I inquired whether Cardinal not in touch directly with Rome and whether had had safe means of communication to which Father Magyar replied that Cardinal was in constant and safe communication with Rome.
In my opinion this recent démarche probably caused by Rakosi speech weekend at Mezobegyes in which after denouncing “leaders of Catholic Church not yet followers of Democracy” he promised “we will not tolerate the abuses of the denominational schools and will oust reaction from the stronghold it is trying to build up under the cloak of the Roman Catholic Church”.
Although this appeal for advice is in fact a reiteration of previous appeals from the Cardinal2 and from Archbishop of Eger I feel that in view of the tone of greater urgency it would be helpful to have such comments as Department can give me for transmission to Cardinal.
Repeated Rome for Parsons,3 AmVat as 26.
- József Cardinal Mindszenty, Prince Primate of Hungary and Archbishop of Esztergom.↩
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There were also several subsequent appeals from Cardinal Mindszenty. On May 14 an emissary of the Cardinal called upon Minister Chapin to discuss the Communist pressure against the Church. In commenting upon this conversation in telegram 805, May 14, from Budapest, not printed, Chapin added the following:
↩“Among other points raised to my amazement was a request of Cardinal that in event Hungary liberated from Communist yoke that American Government would not forget the plight of the truly Hungarian population of subCarpathian-Ruthenia.” (864.00/5–1448)
- J. Graham Parsons, Foreign Service Officer at Vatican City.↩