Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume XXIX, Eastern Europe; Eastern Mediterranean, 1969–1972

118. Telegram From the Embassy in Hungary to the Department of State¹

Budapest, June 29, 1971, 1225Z.

1123. Subject: Cardinal Mindszenty: Mindszenty Letters to President and Pope.² Ref: Budapest 1110.³

1. Begin summary: Mindszenty has written two letters, one to the President, the other to the Pope. The letter to the President states that the Vatican wishes a change in his status, that this is a difficult decision, and he asks for the Presidentʼs advice. The letter to the Pope includes the statement that he has decided to leave the Embassy and, though he would prefer to remain in Hungary, is prepared to leave the country if this is considered in the best interest of the church. The letter to the Pope thus signifies a sudden and decisive change following the Cheli–Zagon visit. The Vatican should follow up quickly to sustain the momentum now achieved. End summary.

2. On my return to Budapest June 28 I found that there had been sudden new developments in the Mindszenty question since the end of the Cheli–Zagon visit (reftel). Mindszenty had told the DCM that he wished to send a letter to the President and another to the Pope. The complete texts of the letters will be transmitted in the two immediately succeeding telegrams.

3. The letter to the President is short and states essentially that the Vatican wants a change in his status, that this is a difficult decision, that his first obligation is to inform his host of the situation, and he would be grateful for the Presidentʼs advice. I am sending the original by pouch today to Assistant Secretary Davies (invoice no. C–51, pouch no. K 5–694, registry no. 1198854).

4. Mindszenty did not give us the text of the letter to the Pope, which is in Latin. He asked that it be sent sealed to the Pope and we said we would do this. However, we have the text and, according to our translation—we are not expert Latinists and request the Department to furnish an official translation as soon as possible—the Cardinal states among other things that he has decided to leave the Embassy and, while preferring to spend the rest of his days in Hungary, he is also prepared to leave the country if this is considered in the best interests of the church.

5. We have not seen the actual contents of the sealed envelope, but we assume it is the June 28 letter of which we got a copy. It would clearly be important to verify the texts which we are transmitting (Budapest 1125)⁴ against the signed original. I assume Illing will be able to do this in his consultations with Vatican officials.

6. Since Mindszentyʼs letter to the Pope is of high importance at the present juncture and should be given quick action in the Vatican, I am sending the original by pouch today (invoice no. C–1, pouch no. J–1193, registry no. 1198855) to Embassy Rome for Illing. I recommend that the Department instruct Illing to deliver the original as soon as possible to Casaroli. I also recommend that prior to the arrival of the letter in Rome, Casaroli be told that what we believe is an important message from Mindszenty to the Pope is on its way.

7. The Mindszenty letter to the Pope is a key development, and I urge that we make it clear to the Vatican that it should seize the opportunity to press ahead quickly and firmly for a resolution of the Mindszenty case. The next step is presumably a reply from the Pope accepting Mindszentyʼs offer. No time should be lost in sustaining the momentum we have now achieved.

8. I believe the present letter to the President should, contrary to the usual practice, be given a Presidential reply. I recommend that this include the following elements: an expression of satisfaction that the U.S. was able to extend hospitality at a time of need; understanding that the Cardinal may wish to change his status; and a general offer to be of assistance to him in the event he decides to change his present status.

Puhan

1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 693, Country Files, Europe, Hungary, Vol. I. Secret; Priority; Exdis. Repeated priority to Rome.
2. The letter to the President is summarized in paragraph 3 below. A translation of Mindszentyʼs letter to the Pope is in telegram 119533 to Budapest, July 2. (Ibid.)
3. Dated June 27; it reported that Mindszenty had refused a request from Vatican officials to sign a document recording his agreement to leave Hungary and refused to set a date for a second visit from Vatican emissaries. (Ibid.)
4. Not printed. (Ibid.)