740.00119 Control (Hungary)/5–2145: Telegram
Mr. Alexander C. Kirk, Political Adviser to the Supreme Allied Commander, Mediterranean Theater, to the Secretary of State
[Received May 21—2:12 p.m.]
2274. Following is paraphrase of 132, May 7 from Budapest.48 Please see Key’s Z–920 to Agwar49 May 6 re frustration during first phase of Amer participation in work of ACC. Also Hungarian Govt is disappointed in what appears to it as a lack of Brit and Amer interest in affairs of Hungary which is being evidenced by little activity of their members of ACC. In a recent meeting of the Political Committee50 this was a matter for discussion it has confidentially been learned.
According to Balogh51 (perhaps for our consumption) Hungarian public opinion is shifting away from Anglo-Saxon powers towards the Russians. Many now feel this friendship is their sole alternative. Friends of Anglo-Saxon democracies continue to hold on but are being branded as “reactionaries” because of their attitudes, and are hoping [Page 819] that Hungary will not become entirely a Russian sphere of interest.
We fail to see how the Hungarians can have any other choice than to submit to Russian dictation unless Brit and Amer sections have a stronger role in ACC in latter phases of armistice period.
- Mr. Squires had officially taken over protection of American interests and property in Budapest as of April 6, 1945, as reported in telegram 1580, April 16, 8 p.m. from Caserta (740.00119 Control (Hungary)/4–1645).↩
- Adjutant General, War Department.↩
- Political Committee of the Hungarian Provisional National Assembly.↩
- István Balogh, Under Secretary of State in the office of the Prime Minister of the Hungarian Provisional Government.↩