Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Eastern Europe, Volume XXV

126. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, October 27, 1956, Noon¹

Washington, October 27, 1956, Noon

SUBJECT

• Situation in Hungary

PARTICIPANTS

• Mr. Tibor Zador, First Secretary, Hungarian Legation
• Mr. Murphy, G
• Mr. Beam, EUR
• Mr. Bennett, G

Mr. Zador came in at the request of Mr. Murphy, explaining that the Minister² was also permanent representative of Hungary at the United Nations and had had to remain in New York in connection with his duties there.

Mr. Murphy emphasized to Mr. Zador that the Department was completely out of touch with our Legation in Budapest. The Legation had been unable to transmit or receive messages for two days now,³ and we accordingly were without any firm information on the situation in Hungary. We would appreciate any news which Mr. Zador could supply on conditions there. After remarking that there seemed to be a great deal of reports on events in Hungary in the American press, Mr. Zador said that his Legation has been in constant touch with Budapest through the Hungarian Legation in London which is in radio contact with the Government in Budapest.

Mr. Zador declared that everything has been quiet in Budapest since last night. He said that the “riot” in the capital had been terminated on the evening of October 26; a few scattered groups were “holding out” in several sectors of the city but mopping up operations are now in process. When Mr. Murphy asked about reports of uprisings and fighting in other parts of Hungary, Mr. Zador replied that he had no information of any disturbances other than in Budapest and continued to talk of the “riot” in the capital. Pressed by Mr. Murphy for an explanation of events, Mr. Zador asserted that trouble had started after demonstrations by students demanding certain changes in Hungary. He stated that their demands were justified and in response to a question admitted that the students had been joined by trade union groups. Mr. Zador would not accept Mr. Murphy’s suggestion that there was widespread support for the demonstrators, insisting that the students had been taken advantage of and exploited by “extreme right wing” and “fascist” elements, who took over the demonstrations and caused the disorders. When Mr. Murphy expressed the view that a movement as widespread as the one reported from Hungary must have leaders, Mr. Zador said that he did not know who the leaders were, that there was no genuine opposition to the Hungarian government. He then went into a rather rambling harangue of Hungary’s sufferings under the fight against “fascist” leadership during the period 1919–1945. He reminded that many of the “fascist” leaders had been executed in 1945 and that others had fled the country. Therefore, there were no real leaders in the group rioting against the government.

In response to an inquiry from Mr. Murphy, he was unable to offer a definition for the word “fascist” which he had used so frequently.

Mr. Murphy asked about reports of Soviet troops being engaged in putting down the demonstrations and asked whether the Hungarian people might not be resenting military action against them on the part of foreign troops. Mr. Zador said that he was sure the Soviet troops had not opened fire until they were attacked by the demonstrators. He sought to minimize the extent of Soviet intervention and said that he believed the Soviets had only three divisions in Hungary. Most of the action was being undertaken by the Hungarian army and police. Anyway, he said, the Soviet troops were acting at the request of the Hungarian government under the provisions of the Warsaw Pact, and their participation in the fighting was entirely legal. Despite persistent questioning on the part of Mr. Murphy, Mr. Zador could not be brought to acknowledge any personal feeling over the shooting down of Hungarian subjects by Soviet troops.

Mr. Murphy emphasized that both the American government and people had every sympathy for the Hungarian people and that there was much concern in this country over reports of bloodshed. He stressed the desire of the American government and people to send aid in the form of medical supplies and other relief materials and said that the American Red Cross had been in touch with the International Red Cross at Geneva on this matter. He said that our information as of today indicated that 15 national Red Cross societies had been in touch with Geneva, and the International Red Cross had so far not been able to reach the Hungarian Red Cross either by telephone, telegraph or radio, and we were thus unable to determine whether the Hungarian Red Cross needed assistance or was willing to accept it. It was our understanding that the Soviet Red Cross had not made any offer of assistance as yet, although there would be a meeting in Geneva soon with Soviet participation, and we would hope to find out their attitude at that time.

In closing the conversation, Mr. Murphy stated that he wanted to protest on behalf of the United States government the lack of communications facilities in Budapest. We were unable to confirm many of the conflicting reports coming out of Hungary or to ascertain with any degree of accuracy the situation with respect to American citizens in Hungary. He wanted the Hungarian government to understand that the United States government protested this situation. Mr. Zador took note of the protest and made his departure.

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 764.00/10–2756. Secret. Drafted by Bennett.
2. Dr. Péter Kós.
3. There was no communication with the Legation between 5 a.m. on October 25 and 2 p.m. on October 27 when a message was transmitted in the clear from Budapest over the facilities of the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.