740.00119 E.W./10–1144: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman)
2417. ReEmbs 3900 October 11. It is our understanding that by accepting the preliminary armistice conditions the Hungarian Government has agreed to cease hostilities against the Allies and to enter the war against Germany. We agree that the arrangements to be made between the Soviet High Command and the Hungarian command for carrying out this volte-face are a matter for the decision of the Soviet military authorities.
[Page 902]Since you have already informed Molotov of this Government’s agreement to the dispatch of a joint military mission to verify the withdrawal of Hungarian troops and officials from territory beyond Hungary’s 1937 frontiers (ReEmbs 3849 October 9), as provided in the preliminary conditions now accepted by Hungary, it would be useful if you were to obtain any indications regarding the British and Soviet expectations with respect to the number and respective ranks of each country’s contingent on such mission, as well as the time and manner of their entry into Hungary.
The Department agrees that the representatives of the three Allied Governments should immediately begin discussions on armistice conditions for Hungary. (ReDepts 2398 October 9 and 2403 October 10.)25
Sent to Moscow; repeated to London and AmPolAd (Caserta).26