228. Editorial Note
On December 3, a German Foreign Office official informed Ambassador Conant that RFE had been too “energetic” in offering practical advice to the Hungarians on how to behave in a revolt situation. (Telegram 2127 from Bonn; Department of State, Central Files, 940.40/12–356) On December 20, telegram 2416 from Bonn indicated that the Embassy had been informed that the German review of RFE programs in the period from October 23 to November 10, 1956, had shown no broadcast stating that the West would furnish concrete military help. However, criticism of some programs on lesser grounds was expressed. The Embassy suggested an approach to the German [Page 557] Government to the effect that the airing of this subject prior to United Nations consideration of the Soviet resolution alleging United States intervention and subversion in Soviet and Satellite affairs would be playing into the hands of the Communists. Telegram 1767 to Bonn, December 22, instructed the Embassy to request the German Government to delay the report’s release. (Ibid., 940.40/12–2056)
The Embassy contacted government officials as directed on December 28 to forestall the release of the report at a time when it would redound to the advantage of the Soviet Union in the United Nations. (Telegram 2489 from Bonn, December 28; ibid., 940.40/12–2856) At a subsequent meeting, the Embassy received assurances from the German State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Walter Hallstein, that there was no plan in a “strict sense” to issue a report. But if press or Bundestag pressure increased, then the government, after consulting with the Embassy, wished to be able to issue a statement “that objection was found to certain broadcasts, and that this had been discussed with RFE which had taken corrective measures.” The Embassy had already informed the Foreign Office that RFE was 1) instituting wider prebroadcast scrutiny of programs particularly in sensitive situations; 2) curtailing the amount of programming; and 3) replacing unsatisfactory personnel and adding staff to facilitate more careful control. (Telegram 2568 from Bonn, January 5; ibid., 940.40/1–557)
At the Federal Republic’s request, these points were incorporated in a January 11 letter from Condon to Professor Wilhelm Grewe, Chief of the Political Division of the Foreign Office. Condon maintained that the results of the German investigation and of RFE’s own internal probe showed that the “reproaches against RFE that it had incited the Hungarian people to revolt or had promised them military help from the West are unfounded and cannot be supported.
“A few transmissions, to which you have directed our attention, were also criticized by us in retrospect as having a tone which was understandable in the situation but unnecessarily provocative. These transmissions, however, represent only a fraction of the total number of programs which were presented in the period in question. There is not the slightest evidence that these few transmissions had any influence whatsoever on the course of the historic events in Hungary. Moreover, it seems to us that it would be disrespectful of the courage and sacrifice for the cause of peace of the Hungarian people if one were to ascribe their attitude, which continues unbroken even today, to a few emotional transmissions of foreign radio stations. The tone of these transmissions was rather a spontaneous tribute which was paid to the heroism of the Hungarian patriots.” (Despatch 1204 from Bonn, January 21; ibid., 940.40/1–2157)
[Page 558]When Chancellor Adenauer was pressed to comment at his regular news conference on January 25 on his views of the contents of the RFE broadcasts, he replied that “An examination has taken place; this examination showed that the assertions which had been voiced in the press, that the European radio station, or rather Radio Free Europe, had promised the Hungarians military aid from the West, are not in conformity with the facts. However, also some remarks were made which might give rise to misinterpretations; on this, a discussion, an exchange of ideas took place; changes in the staffing resulted from it, and I believe that for the time being the matter may be regarded as settled.” (Telegram 2849 from Bonn, January 25; ibid., 940.40/1–2557) Both the Embassy and the German Foreign Office expressed satisfaction at the way the problem had been solved. (Telegram 2855 from Bonn, January 26; ibid., 940.40/1–2657) As it turned out, 11 members of RFE’s Hungarian section were let go in the reorganization following the rebellion. (Telegram 4671 from Bonn, June 3; ibid., 940.40/6–357)