106. Memorandum of Conversation1
SECRETARY’S DELEGATION TO THE NINETEENTH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
New York, November 1964
SUBJECT
- Hungarian-U.S. Relations
PARTICIPANTS
-
U.S.
- The Secretary
- Mr. Givan, EUR
-
Hungary
- Foreign Minister Peter
- Minister Radvanyi, Hungarian Embassy
Peter thanked the Secretary for the opportunity to see him, and the officials of the State Department who had initiated and organized the appointment. He felt he should excuse himself for taking the Secretary’s time, but their talk might have some importance for both sides. The very fact of their meeting has implications.
The Secretary said he hoped bilateral relations could move along. Our representatives are talking over matters of much interest to us; this may take a little time to develop momentum, but let us try. When we can move, let us do so; if there are pockets of stubborn resistance, we can by-pass them. We will be glad to review our bilateral relations as a whole. We will look at trade questions broadly in the new session of Congress. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee is working hard on this and there is growing interest in the business community. The Committee will probably hold hearings in the first quarter of next year. Whether there will be legislative amendments, for instance to extend Most Favored Nation status, will depend on the Committee’s study and also on whether the general atmosphere continues to improve. We recognize that opportunities for trade are limited as long as the MFN door is closed. Meanwhile both sides can give thought to trade possibilities from the point of view of demand and markets. This is not necessarily easy for us, since our trade is organized on a private basis and our government cannot tell businessmen what to buy and sell. From the Hungarian point of view, tourism would seem to be an area where some expansion would be possible quickly. There is a backlog of interest among American tourists [Page 306] in Hungary and neighboring areas where travel has been difficult for the past 20 years. If tourism increases, we hope the Hungarian Government will earmark some of its proceeds for tourists coming our way. We are in the tourist business too.
Peter agreed that this was a good possibility. He said it is helpful to have this meeting to obtain personal impressions about the Secretary. If trade possibilities increase, this would facilitate an improvement in relations. MFN status would be helpful generally, not merely for trade.
The Secretary said we are looking in that direction. Whether there is now legislation will probably be affected by Soviet decisions on various outstanding issues such as lend-lease. The Secretary asked whether the agricultural situation in Hungary is good. Peter said it was better and that Hungary appreciates the attitude taken by the U.S. last year on wheat sales. The Secretary said we were glad to be helpful. Peter said no doubt refugee groups had objected. The Secretary said we have several different generations of refugees. Those from 1956–57 seem to be more moderate in their views than some who came earlier. The Secretary said he had had some contact with Hungarian students when he was with the Rockefeller Foundation, and when he was in Budapest in 1957 he had found a lively interest among doctors, scientists, and others in technical and cultural exchanges, not only with the U.S. but with other European countries. Perhaps there is some possibility of increased contacts. Mr. Siscoe is looking into this now in Budapest. An increase in exchanges would benefit everybody.
- Source: Department of State, Secretary’s Memoranda of Conversation: Lot 65 D 330. Confidential. Drafted by Givan and approved in S on December 15. The source text is labeled “Part II of III.” Separate memoranda of the conversation dealing with the General Assembly session, U.S.-Soviet consultations, and Europe are ibid. The meeting was held at USUN.↩