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

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

Budapest, August 9, 1971, 1535Z.

1489. Subject: Cardinal Mindszenty. Ref: State 144482.²

1. We have been asked to comment on line in para 5 reftel prior to its implementation by Rome.³

2. As we have stated from very beginning, principal motivation in Cardinalʼs decision to leave Embassy and Hungary is hope that with this action he can ensure accurate publication of his memoirs to vindicate his conduct in past 23 years. Without assurances—possibly written assurances signed by President—that memoirs will be turned over to him in Vienna or to someone designated by him, Cardinal will not turn memoirs over to us for conveyance to Vienna or, for that matter, leave Embassy. I think it is equally true that conveyance of memoirs to Vienna with assurance that they will be turned over to him or his designated agent will expedite Cardinalʼs departure.⁴

3. The question of publication of his memoirs, once the Cardinal is out of our Embassy, is of course an entirely different matter and one entirely between him and the Vatican. It is in my view not a question we ought to get into.

4. Agree fully with Department that we ought to handle matter in manner acceptable to Cardinal and to Vatican promptly.

5. Cardinal is not pressing me for reply to his request but is pressuring Embassy officers who deal with him for Presidential assurances. If after I have authority to seek to persuade Cardinal that cable to President not appropriate, and he remains unconvinced, I shall of course transmit cable as proposed reftel 6B.⁵

Puhan

1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 693, Country Files—Europe, Hungary, Vol. I. Secret; Priority; Exdis. Repeated to Rome.
2. Dated August 6. (Ibid., RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, SOC 12–1 HUNG)
3. In paragraph 5 of telegram 144482 to Rome, August 6, the Department of State requested that the Embassy inform Cheli or Casaroli that the Department was planning to turn the Cardinalʼs “memoirs over to him personally without conditions, since we believe this will provide him with incentive to make his move…. We doubt whether we can move memoirs prior to giving him unconditional commitment to turn them over to him in Vienna, but we hope avoid commitment to turn them over to his designated agent…. We would, of course, prefer handle matter in manner acceptable to Cardinal and to Vatican promptly in order expedite movement of memoirs. We therefore hope obtain prompt expression of Vaticanʼs views.” (Ibid.)
4. In telegram 151133 to Budapest, August 18, the Department of State authorized the Embassy to inform Mindszenty that it would transfer his memoirs to Vienna and then turn them over to him or a designated representative. (Ibid., Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 693, Country Files—Europe, Hungary, Vol. I)
5. In telegram 1608 from Budapest, August 25, Puhan reported that he had delivered assurances to Mindszenty in the form of a letter drafted and signed by the Ambassador. The Cardinal, who had requested a personal letter of assurances from the President, was “mulling” whether this form of assurance was satisfactory. (Ibid.)