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Memorandum by the Secretary of State
The Hungarian Minister19 called having been absent in Hungary for some three months. He had no business.
I requested any comment he might have in the way of impressions or opinions relative to the pertinent prospect of conditions and the situation in Europe. He replied that he had motored considerably over Europe and that, apart from the acute nature of the Spanish situation, he felt that the outlook for quiet in Europe had somewhat improved and appears to be in an improved condition today.
I inquired as to what the objective of European Governments is in particular and what he considered the future of the present policy of ever-increasing armaments. He replied that he thought within three or four years armament developments might be such that there would be a chance for the nations to work out adjustments of their economic and other affairs. I inquired whether, in his opinion, it [Page 366] would be possible for the policy of ever-increasing armaments to continue four years without either a military explosion or, in any event, an almost complete sapping of the substance and vitality of the population of Europe by the pursuit of a hopeless, uneconomic policy of unproductive armament and other military supplies. He agreed that this latter condition is gradually becoming a certainty, but made no comment as to militarism.
I expressed an opinion that a continuance of armaments on an increasing scale for a period of three or four years would be absolutely fatal in any event; that if the nations ever expect seriously to attempt the pursuit of the opposite course of good will, equality and fair dealing in lieu of threats, discrimination and militarism, steps in that direction by the important nations could not be taken one day too soon. He finally agreed that our program would offer the only way to peace and to the best possible condition of economic security and that no one could foretell the outcome of another three or four years of militarism. I do not know whether he will convey what I said to his Government, or, if so, what if any effect it may have.
- John Pelényi.↩