740.00119 Control (Hungary)/12–244
Memorandum by the Secretary of State to President Roosevelt
The progress of our negotiations with the Soviet and British Governments concerning the Hungarian armistice has been somewhat delayed because of conditions in Hungary resulting from the present military operations there. We think it essential nevertheless that the American representative who will be sent to Hungary for the armistice period be designated at an early date, and the Department is accordingly assembling a part of the subordinate personnel in Italy, in order that the mission can be established immediately upon the presentation of an armistice.
We should like to appoint as the head of this mission the Honorable H. F. Arthur Schoenfeld, a Foreign Service Officer, formerly Minister to the Dominican Republic, and latterly to Finland. Since June 30, 1944 he has been assigned to the Department.
Although there will doubtless be an Allied Control Commission in authority in Hungary during the armistice period, we expect that the political mission can be established independently in such a way as to constitute, for practical purposes, during this period, the equivalent of a combined diplomatic and consular establishment. We therefore suggest that in order for Mr. Schoenfeld to perform these functions properly he have the personal rank of Minister.
If you approve, the Department will immediately proceed with the necessary arrangements, in order that Mr. Schoenfeld can proceed overseas without delay as soon as the situation warrants.80
- President Roosevelt on December 7 replied as follows: “ERS Jr OK FDR” (740.00119 Control (Hungary) 12–744).↩