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that the Hungarian Government could improve the condition of the Hungarian people by:

a. In practice, vesting real authority in popularly chosen Local Councils, constitutionally responsible and accountable to the local population;

b. Enforcing in practice the constitutional guarantees of free speech and assembly;

c. Assuring in practice the constitutional guarantee of equality before the law;

d. Guaranteeing in practice the right of the working peasant to a just share of the fruits of his labor;

e. Respecting in practice responsibility of the working people freely to organize for the protection of their interests against all exploitation;

f. Observance in practice of the constitutional right of the workers to proper rest and recreation, as well as other benefits necessary for a decent livelihood;

g. Affirmation in practice that, to protect the wealth of the Hungarian community, the economic welfare of the Hungarian people must transcend the demands resulting from foreign economic levies;

h. Recognition in practice that the forced nationalization of consumer goods outlets and services has deprived the Hungarian people not only of an important element of their guaranteed personal liberty, but also of their legitimate material needs;

i. Realizing in practice the requirement for adequate housing to assist in protecting the institutions of marriage and family;

j. Establishing in practice the principle of free education and scholarly inquiry, and the constitutional right of freedom of worship and conscience.

The United States Government does not believe that any of the above suggestions can be considered either "inciting," "slanderous,' or "seditious." Certain of the highest officials of the Hungarian Government apparently share this belief as in recent months they publicly criticized present conditions in Hungary including references to flagrant abuses of police power and judicial processes as well as deep-seated economic ills and political tensions. The leaflets in question merely make suggestions concerning practical means whereby some admitted shortcomings may be corrected.

The United States Government desires to take this occasion to reiterate its belief in international freedom of communication and to express its conviction that steps in achieving peaceful relations between peoples will be frustrated so long as governments attempt to isolate and silence their own people. In this connection it is noted that Hungarian Government representatives attended the recent Montevideo Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and that the Hungarian delegation joined all other delegations in adopting by acclamation the resolution entitled "Measures to Promote the Use of Means of Mass Communication to Increase Mutual Confidence and Understanding Among the

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Peoples of the World." This resolution among other things invites all members of UNESCO to take the necessary measures to assure freedom of expression and to remove barriers to the free flow of undistorted information between member states.

The United States Government hopes that the day will come when balloons will no longer be necessary as a means by which the people of one country may freely communicate with peoples in other lands. Presumably it is within the power of the Hungarian Government to take the necessary remedial action. Should the Hungarian Government, in conformity with the obligations it assumed toward the United States and other signatories of Article Two of the Treaty of Peace, establish freedom of discussion, opinion, and assembly within the country and, in accordance with the spirit of that Article and the above-cited UNESCO resolution, remove existing barriers to free interchange with the outside world, the need for friends of the Hungarian people to resort to unconventional means of communications will no longer exist.

44. MESSAGE FROM THE ACTING SECRETARY OF STATE 2 TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE HUNGARIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL, FEBRUARY 23, 1955 1 4

The efforts and sacrifices made by the people of Hungary in the War of Independence of 1848-49 were viewed, as you know, with warm sympathy by the American people. This was a period in our own history when we were coming of age as a nation and, in keeping with the principles underlying the founding of our Government and society, the American people felt a deep interest in all peoples who aspired to freedom and independence. In the years that followed, the bonds of sympathy between the two peoples were further strengthened by tens of thousands of Hungarian immigrants who, seeking new opportunities in this land of freedom, came to the United States and contributed importantly to our national growth and development and to the enrichment of our culture.

Now, more than a century after the stirring events of 1848-49, I believe we may regard as inspiring and reassuring the fact that, despite all vicissitudes, the people of Hungary and the people of the United States remain stanch friends and continue to find in their common devotion to those high ideals the basis of mutual respect and understanding. From these lasting foundations, across the

1 This was the title of draft resolution 8C/DR/123, approved by the Program and Budget Commission of UNESCO on Dec. 8, 1954 (UNESCO, Records of the General Conference, Eighth Session, Montevideo, 1954: Proceedings, p. 497) and by the 17th plenary meeting on Dec. 10, 1954 (ibid., p. 219), as Part 5 of the UNESCO Program for 1955–56. For the text of this part of the program, see ibid., Resolutions, pp. 37-40.

2 Herbert Hoover, Jr.

3 The Rt. Rev. Béla Varga.

4 Department of State Bulletin, Apr. 4, 1955, p. 558.

difficult days which lie ahead, the goals of liberty and justice in the struggle against tyranny come within clear prospect, and we can view the future with quiet resolution and confidence.

45. HARASSMENT OF LOCAL EMPLOYEES OF THE AMERICAN LEGATION AT BUDAPEST: Note and Memorandum From the American Legation to the Hungarian Foreign Ministry, July 1, 1955 1

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The Legation of the United States of America presents its compliments to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Hungarian People's Republic and has the honor to refer to the arrest of Mr. Cornelius Balas, a Hungarian employee of the Legation, by Hungarian police authorities on June 23, 1955. The Legation has not been adequately informed of the reasons for this action, which is the latest in a long series of such harassments directed against its local employees. The Hungarian Government has persistently failed to respond satisfactorily to repeated inquiries by the Legation in each of these cases. The Legation is instructed to inform the Ministry for Foreign Affairs that the United States Government protests most emphatically the arbitrary and secretive actions which the Hungarian Government has taken against not only Mr. Balas but also other local employees of the Legation. These steps by the Hungarian Government, accompanied as they have been by acts of intimidation and reprisal against visitors at the Legation, indicate clearly that the Hungarian Government has adopted once again the provocative policies in disregard of human rights that have previously brought discredit upon it.

The Government of the United States has also taken note in this connection of the MTI [Magyar Tavirati Irodi, Hungarian Telegraph Agency] release of June 25 concerning the detention of alleged American spies and saboteurs by State Defense organs of the Ministry of the Interior. It categorically rejects this announcement as slanderous and unfounded. These actions of the Hungarian Government, especially at the present juncture in international affairs, are wholly inconsistent with the professed desire of the Hungarian Government for normal relations.

In these circumstances the United States Government cannot but regard the arrest of Mr. Balas and the continued detention of other local employees of the American Legation as developments detrimental to United States-Hungarian relations. It is the earnest hope. of the United States Government that the responsible Hungarian authorities will accordingly give careful thought to their further actions in this matter. The arrest of Mr. Balas and the detention of other local employees of the Legation have impaired functions of the American Legation in Budapest that are normal and legitimate phases of the operation of diplomatic missions in all countries.

1 Department of State Bulletin, Sept 19, 1955, pp. 460–462.

The Government of the United States calls upon the Hungarian Government to provide a satisfactory explanation of charges brought against the local employees of the American Legation who are now under detention by Hungarian authorities or to permit them to return without delay to their employment with assurance to the Legation that they will not be subjected to further molestation without due cause. Failing a satisfactory response or remedial action by the Hungarian Government within a reasonable period of time, the United States Government will find it necessary to make public the facts regarding the conduct of the Hungarian Government in these and related matters and to reconsider the situation under which the Hungarian Legation in Washington has been free to carry on information activities in the United States.

The Legation of the United States requests a prompt reply from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.1

[Enclosure]

MEMORANDUM OF HISTORY OF ARRESTS AND HARASSMENT OF THE AMERICAN LEGATION AT BUDAPEST 2

Since 1951 twelve local employees of the American Legation in Budapest have been arrested or deported, or have disappeared without trace as a result of action instituted by authorities of the Hungarian Government. The history of these cases is as follows:

1. Stephen Szecsi-Arrested January 19, 1951. An Aide Memoire requesting the Hungarian Government to state the reason for the arrest, was delivered on January 19, 1951. The Hungarian Government has to this date failed to provide the Legation with a specification of the charges preferred against Mr. Szecsi or with other particulars concerning the case. The Legation learned last May that Mr. Szecsi died in prison on April 28, 1955.

2. Aloysius Pongracz-Arrested March 24, 1951. An Aide Memoire requesting the Hungarian Government to inform the Legation of the reasons for Mr. Pongracz' arrest was left at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on March 27, 1951. No reply has to this date been received. Mr. Pongracz is presumed still to be in prison.

3. Otto Fernbach-Arrested April 17, 1951, following a minor automobile accident in which he was involved while acting as official Legation chauffeur. The Legation subsequently learned that Mr. Fernbach had been sentenced to fifteen days imprisonment. In its Aide Memoire dated April 18, 1951, the Legation requested information regarding the sentence reportedly given Mr. Fernbach. No reply was ever received to this inquiry. Mr. Fernbach thereafter disappeared for a period of two years. He reappeared unexpectedly on April 20, 1953, stating only that he had been in prison. He has been re-employed with the Legation since the date of his release.

4. Frederick B. Karg-Deported from Budapest on twenty-four hours' notice on July 3, 1951 to a small village in northern Hungary. The Legation interceded with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs but without avail. Mr. Karg was finally permitted to leave his place of deportation on August 6, 1953. Although still not permitted to reside in Budapest, he resumed his employment with the Legation and commutes to work each day.

5. Jozsef Batta-Disappeared on April 6, 1952. An Aide Memoire, dated April 11, 1952, was left at the Ministry requesting the Hungarian Government to institute a search and advise the Legation of the results. A further note was

1 No reply was received; see the U.S. note of Sept. 1, 1955 (infra).

2 The notes referred to in this memorandum were not printed.

addressed to the Minister for Foreign Affairs on June 23, 1952, repeating the Legation's request for information. In its reply, dated September 1, 1952, the Ministry stated that Mr. Batta had been taken into custody for anti-democratic activity. No specification of the charges or announcement of sentence has ever been communicated to the Legation. It is assumed that Mr. Batta is still in

prison.

6. Hannah Vegh-Disappeared on July 10, 1952. In its Note No. 22 of September 9, 1952, the Legation requested the assistance of the Ministry in locating Miss Vegh. On September 25, the Ministry offered the explanation that Miss Vegh had attempted to leave Hungary illegally and that she had been arrested. Although no subsequent information regarding Miss Vegh has been communicated to the Legation, it is presumed that she is still under detention. 7. Aimee Karolyi-She was last seen on March 13, 1953. On March 20 the Legation sent Note No. 119, requesting the Ministry to determine the whereabouts of Mrs. Karolyi. A further inquiry was directed to the Ministry in the Legation's Note No. 151 of May 20, 1953. The Ministry replied on June 27 that Mrs. Karolyi had committed action in violation of Hungarian criminal law and had been ordered detained. No further information concerning this case has been forthcoming and Mrs. Karolyi is presumed still to be under detention.

8. Jeno Kvassay, who was employed as a personal chauffeur by the Assistant Military Attaché of the Legation, disappeared on April 17, 1953. On April 20 the Legation, in its Note No. 137, requested the Ministry to inform the Legation concerning the whereabouts of Mr. Kvassay. No reply has ever been received to this inquiry and Mr. Kvassay's whereabouts and fate continue to be unknown to the Legation.

9. Laszlo Gal-Disappeared on June 3, 1953. The Legation on June 8, 1953 sent Note No. 161 to the Ministry asking for information regarding the whereabouts of Dr. Gal. The Ministry's reply, dated June 27, stated only that Dr. Gal had committed "action in violation of Hungarian criminal law" and was being detained. The specific charges on which Dr. Gal was detained have never been made known, nor has the result of any proceedings against him ever been communicated to the Legation.

10. George Karman-Disappeared without explanation on September 24, 1954. On September 28 the Minister of the United States made an oral protest to Mr. Hajdu, Director of Political Section No. 2 of the Ministry, in connection with the unexplained disappearance of Mr. Karman. On October 4, the Minister addressed a personal letter to Mr. Hajdu requesting information as to whether the Ministry had any information as yet on Mr. Karman. Mr. Hajdu on October 12, addressed a note to the Minister stating that in view of Mr. Karman's Hungarian citizenship, his case was not a proper subject for discussion between the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Legation. When in its Note No. 16 of October 25, the Legation took issue with this contention, the Ministry in its Note No. 001415/1 of November 17, closed the case by stating that it did not wish to react to the Legation's Note. No further information concerning the case of Mr. Karman has been communicated to the Legation since this date.

11. Bela Kapotsy-Arrested on February 24, 1955. In its Note No. 36 of March 7, the Legation requested the Ministry to clarify the reasons for the arrest. In a subsequent conversation, Mr. Hajdu, Director of Political Department No. 2 of the Ministry, advised a representative of the Legation that he understood the arrest was due to some "illegal activities" and that he would attempt to ascertain the facts and inform the Legation. No additional information regarding Mr. Kapotsy's case has to this date been forthcoming from the Ministry.

12. Cornelius Balas-Arrested on June 23, 1955. The Legation was informed orally on June 27 by a representative of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs that Mr. Balas had been arrested for “contravening Hungarian law”. Efforts to elicit more specific information regarding the charges on which Mr. Balas was being held proved unavailing.

Thus, within the past eight months alone, three local employees of the Legation staff have been arrested without proper explanation or justification being offered, with two of these arrests occurring within the past four months.

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