Office of the Historian

740.00119 E.W./10–644: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman)

Washington, October 9, 1944—10 p.m.

2398. ReDeptel 2381, October 7. In view of your authorization to engage in discussions with British and Soviet representatives in Moscow looking to agreement on conditions of armistice for Hungary, the Department transmits for your background information the following summary of the draft terms of armistice which the Department sent to London on August 1521 as guidance for Ambassador Winant in discussions to be held on this subject in the EAC. These terms have been cleared by the Joint Chiefs of Staff and may be taken as representing the general lines of the American point of view.

  • “1. Surrender instrument to be signed by Allied Theater Commander by Chief of High Command of Hungarian Army or his representative, and if possible by authorized civilian official representing the Hungarian Government.
  • “2. Without prejudice to ultimate settlement of disputed territorial claims, Hungarian armed forces to be withdrawn according to schedule laid down by Allies from areas occupied by Hungary since 1937; Hungarian officials likewise to be withdrawn from such areas except those whose continued presence there is desired by Allied High Command.
  • “3. Allies to have right to occupy and make use of Hungarian territory in any way they deem necessary. (However, Hungary might be given assurance that Czechoslovak, Yugoslav or Rumanian troops will not be used to occupy Hungary, and also that if Hungary actively resists the Germans full Allied occupation may not be required.)
  • “4. Hungary to place at disposal of Allied High Command such troops, materials of war, transportation and power facilities, industrial enterprises, etc., as may be required for the conduct of military operations against Germany. (Hungary should not, however, be granted the status of co-belligerency.) The Allied High Command to determine, according to circumstances, the degree of Hungarian disarmament, demobilization and demilitarization.
  • “5. The maintenance of order to be the responsibility of the Hungarian Government in such parts of Hungary as are not occupied by the Allies. The Hungarian Government also to be required to hold and to deliver, as directed by Allied Governments, all German nationals and persons designated as war criminals who may be found on Hungarian soil.
  • “6. Hungary to release prisoners of war and interned nationals of United Nations, as well as all persons confined or interned for political reasons or as a result of discriminatory laws.
  • “7. Hungary to be obligated to make such reparation and restitution as the Allied Governments may require, and to safeguard pending return all property in Hungary belonging to United Nations Governments or nationals. (In assessing Hungarian reparation obligations it will not be the intention of the Allies to impose such a burden on Hungary as to reduce disastrously its standard of living or to endanger permanently its economic independence.)
  • “8. Hungary to make such contribution to general relief and rehabilitation as Allies may require.”

On September 25 the British presented to EAC their draft of armistice conditions for Hungary.22 Summaries of this draft and of the Department’s comments thereon will be sent to you immediately in separate telegrams.23

Hull
  1. See instruction 4433, August 15, to London, p. 883.↩
  2. See telegram 7991, September 25, midnight, from London, p. 890.↩
  3. Telegrams 2397, October 9, 9 p.m., and 2403, October 10, 8 p.m., not printed. For the Department’s comment, see telegram 7929, September 28, midnight, to London, p. 893.↩