Foreign Relations of the United States, 1981–1988, Volume X, Eastern Europe

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

8172.

Budapest, September 27, 1985, 1458Z

SUBJECT

• Reported Major Change in Hungary’s Policy Towards Dissidents.

1. Confidential—Entire text.

2. Summary: A party official who is a key player in formulating Hungary’s dissident policy asserted on Sep 27 that the MSZMP Central Committee has taken some “significant” decisions concerning dissidents. The official clearly stated that some of the country’s leading dissidents who have been unsuccessful in obtaining passports for years will be free to travel as they like. End summary.

3. On Sep 27, Pol Chief had lunch with Andras Knopp the Deputy Director of the Hungarian Socialist Workers Party (MSZMP)’s scientific, public education and cultural affairs department. In addition to discussing the case of dissident Gyorgy Krasso who is currently under a police surveillance order (limited house arrest—see septel),² Knopp claimed that the Central Committee has made a “significant” decision concerning Hungarian dissidents. Knopp claimed that no dissident is unable to obtain a passport for political reasons. In response to Pol Chief’s assertion that it was his understanding that certain persons have been unsuccessful in obtaining passports for several years (without offering names), Knopp replied that the situation is now different and no passport will be withheld on political grounds. Following further discussion, Knopp became more specific and mentioned that dissident philosopher Janos Kis is free to travel to Madrid if he wishes to attend a meeting on October 17. (Comment: As recently as Sep 26, Kis was not aware of this. End comment). Knopp further commented that even in the “unique” case of Romanian-born dissident Gaspar Niklos Tamas, Gaspar is free to travel.

4. In response to further questioning, Knopp said this policy will remain in effect provided the dissidents confine themselves to unstated “reasonable” activities outside Hungary’s borders.

5. Comment: Budapest’s change of heart is no doubt related to the October 15 opening of the CSCE cultural forum.³ By allowing some of the most prominent dissidents to leave at that time, the authorities reap the double benefit: (a) elimination of a blot on their already relatively good human rights record and (b) lessening the chances of having to face either local dissident activity during the forum or local dissidents joining forces with foreign political activists who may come to Budapest for the forum.

6. Preliminary indications lead us to believe that the Hungarians may be successful in encouraging dissidents to leave in October. Laszlo Rajk recently told Pol Chief that he thought his outstanding application for a passport had a better than usual chance of being successful because of the cultural forum. Janos Kis has also commented that he is keeping his passport application current and has not yet finalized plans for activity during the forum. End comment.

Smith

1. Source: Reagan Library, Paula J. Dobriansky Files, Hungary 1985 (3). Confidential; Immediate. Sent for information to Belgrade, East Berlin, Bucharest, Moscow, Prague, Sofia, and Warsaw.
2. Telegram 8171 from Budapest, September 27, reported that Krasso’s police surveillance was being terminated. (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, D850689–0742)
3. The forum took place in Budapest from October 15 to November 25.