Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume XVII, Eastern Europe

107. Memorandum of Conversation¹

Washington, February 13, 1965, 11:45 a.m.

SUBJECT

• Mob Attack on our Budapest Legation

PARTICIPANTS

• U.S.
  • William R. Tyler, Assistant Secretary for European Affairs
  • Christopher A. Squire, EE
• Hungary
  • Mr. Janos Radvanyi, Chargé d’Affaires, Hungarian Legation
  • Mr. Endre Szluka, Second Secretary, Hungarian Legation

Hungarian Chargé Radvanyi, summoned to the Department by Assistant Secretary Tyler, appeared at 11:45 a.m. February 13 with Second Secretary Szluka.

Mr. Tyler informed Radvanyi that he was sorry to have to broach a subject not particularly pleasant, and one which he had hoped would not arise at this stage in our efforts to improve relations. He had been informed,² Mr. Tyler continued, of a demonstration which had been staged against the US Legation in Budapest. The demonstration lasted about 45 minutes, from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. There had been a crowd of about 1000 persons, which included a number of Asiatic and African students as well as Cubans carrying anti-American placards. According to a message from our Legation we had received a warning 10 minutes prior to the event by telephone, from the Protocol Section of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Protocol had warned that a demonstration was pending and that the Ministry would endeavor to provide the Legation with adequate police protection. The police arrived, however, only after all the lower windows of the Legation had been smashed, after ink had been thrown at the premises, and after two cars belonging to staff members of the Legation had been completely wrecked. The first floor theater and snack bar were penetrated briefly and the furniture thrown about; the US seal was pulled down from the front door.

It was particularly significant, Mr. Tyler continued, that an organizer of the demonstration, a Hungarian, was overheard at the end of the mob action instructing Asiatic and African students to “return to the house” where they would be formally thanked for their participation. Mr. Tyler informed Chargé Radvanyi that Mr. O’Shaughnessy had already lodged a strong protest in Budapest, and had asked the Hungarian Government to pay for the damages which had resulted from this demonstration.

The US Government noted that the notice given to our Legation about the demonstration was inadequate, and that police protection was inadequate. The US noted further the participation of Hungarians in the demonstration, the fact that windows were broken, cars wrecked, the Legation penetrated and the US seal had been torn down.

Mr. Tyler added that very frankly he was surprised that this demonstration had been organized and permitted at a time when we were making useful progress together to resolve our outstanding problems. We were all the more surprised since, to our knowledge, this was the first time such a demonstration had occurred in Budapest since the war. The US was also mindful of the fact that there had recently been demonstrations in countries which were immediate neighbors of Hungary to the north and south, but that these demonstrations did not result in damages against our diplomatic establishments as in Hungary.

Mr. Tyler then said that he took this opportunity to remind Mr. Radvanyi of the statement made three days ago by President Johnson, on February 10, regarding the demonstration against the American Embassy in Moscow. He then read the President’s statement.³

Mr. Tyler informed Mr. Radvanyi he would appreciate his informing the Hungarian Government that the US feels that this demonstration and what happened as a result is an unfortunate matter. The US considers that Hungary should have afforded the US Legation effective protection. The participation of Hungarians in the demonstration and in an organizing role gave a particularly unfortunate aspect to the whole thing. The report that African and Asian students were to go “back to the house” to be formally thanked for their participation made a most unfavorable impression on the US.

Mr. Radvanyi said that according to his information the Hungarian authorities had done everything possible to protect the US Legation. He said that he would hesitate to mention all the demonstrations which had taken place against Hungarian official premises in the US.

Mr. Tyler interjected to say that he hoped Mr. Radvanyi was not implying that Hungarian windows had been broken, cars wrecked or seals torn down. Mr. Radvanyi said that of course he would inform his Government very promptly of what Mr. Tyler had said. Mr. Tyler concluded that he felt bound to tell Mr. Radvanyi that this demonstration was not helpful to the improvement of US-Hungarian relations, and that we supported the protest made by the US Legation in Budapest.⁴

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 23–8 HUNG. Confidential. Drafted by Squire on February 15. The meeting was held in Tyler’s office.
2. In telegram 508 from Budapest, February 13. (Ibid.)
3. For text of the February 10 statement, see Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Lyndon B. Johnson, 1965, Book I, p. 170.
4. In telegram 469 to Budapest, February 16, the Department reported: “U.S. Government at highest levels greatly disturbed by current demonstrations which have assumed form of impermissible mob violence,” and commented: “Culpability Hungarian Government in this incident apparent.” The Charge was instructed to stress U.S. concern and was informed that further discussions of outstanding bilateral issues would be suspended. (Department of State, Central Files, POL 23–8 HUNG)