Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Eastern Europe, Volume XXV

270. Despatch From the Legation in Hungary to the Department of State¹

No. 217

Budapest October 11, 1957.

REF

• Legation Despatches No. 218 of Oct. 11, 1957² and No. 219 of Oct. 11, 1957³

SUBJECT

• Certain Aspects of US Policy Toward Hungary

The Legation is of the opinion that now would be an appropriate time for certain aspects of current United States policy toward Hungary to be reviewed by the Department. Since last November, the United States has consistently followed a policy of strong condemnation of the present Hungarian Government and of minimum cultural and other contacts with it. Although the Legation believes that this policy has been correct and that no course substantially different would have been advisable or possible during this period, we are beginning to be concerned lest a continuation of this attitude in all of its aspects for too long might prove to be counterproductive.

In particular the Legation believes that it would be appropriate at the present time to review the question of cultural relations between the United States and Hungary and the question of the travel of American citizens to Hungary. Separate despatches, No. 218 and No. 219, covering these two subjects in greater detail, are being transmitted by this pouch.

Our attitude toward these two problems stems from the belief that a new phase has begun in the life of the post-revolutionary government of Hungary. This period may in one sense have begun in the late spring when the major problems of physical control were largely settled or in another sense the new period may begin after the anniversary of the October uprising. But in any case the physical consolidation of the new government is now largely accomplished, and a new phase has begun or is about to begin in which it would seem that the regime must attempt to solve its longer term problems of finding a political modus vivendi (although based ultimately on force, of course) with its population. Such a phase would seem to demand somewhat different policies on the part of the West than during the initial post-revolutionary period.

At the same time the problem of relations between the Hungarian Government and the Western powers may also be thought of as entering a new phase after the United Nations discussion on Hungary in September. While it is true that United Nations interest in Hungary may well continue, it also seems likely that any future action of that body will be more along the line of persuasive tactics, as represented by the apparent tactics of Prince Wan,⁴ rather than limited primarily to the condemnatory tactics of the first few months after the revolution. This does not imply by any means that Western governments should now accept the Hungarian regime as legal and based on popular support, but it does suggest that governments should re-examine their attitudes toward the regime to see if they will stand the test of time.

In so far as cultural contacts are concerned, it is a fact that United States cultural contacts with Hungary are now considerably less than those with the USSR; a continuation of this situation in the future would seem to be increasingly undesirable.

With this background, it seems less appropriate for the United States to continue policies which, although aimed primarily at the Hungarian Government, do have as one effect the isolation of the Hungarian people from contacts. It is obvious from past experience in the question of contacts that the Hungarian thirst for knowledge of, and all types of association with, Western culture is great and continuing. This situation has not been altered by the national uprising.

There remain, of course, serious problems of the nature and extent of any moves in the cultural field which the United States might make, as well as their timing, publicity treatment, and the question of some quid pro quo. These very important matters are discussed in more detail in the reference despatches. Despite the necessity of examining these as separate problems, however, the Legation considers that from the political point of view the pressures which argue for some change in present policy are similar and apply to both areas.

The Legation recommends therefore that these political aspects be kept in mind in Departmental consideration of the more technical aspects of each problem.

Distribution: The Department may wish to forward processed copies of this despatch to USIA.

Garret G. Ackerson, Jr.

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.64/10–1157. Confidential. Drafted by John T. Rogers.
2. In despatch 218, the Legation recommended that, instead of initiating formal cultural relations between the United States and Hungary, a more gradual step-by-step process beginning with encouragement of occasional visits by individual performers on a nongovernment level should be instituted.(Ibid.)
3. In despatch 219, the Legation recommended that the Department consider permitting travel by American citizens to Hungary so as to widen knowledge of Hungarian conditions in the West, to encourage pro-Western sentiment in Hungary, and to compound the Hungarian Government’s ideological problems. (Ibid.)
4. Prince Wan Waithaiakon was the Special Representative of the General Assembly on the Hungarian Problem. He was pursuing the following objectives: 1) humanitarian treatment of dissidents in Hungary, 2) return of deportees from the Soviet Union, 3) withdrawal of Soviet troops from Hungary, and 4) free elections in Hungary. As of October 10, Prince Wan had contacted the Governments of the Soviet Union and Hungary and appealed for humanitarian treatment and return of deportees, but without success. (Yearbook of the United Nations, 1957, p. 65)