711.64/6–1646
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Assistant Chief of the Division of Southern European Affairs (Barbour)
| Participants: | The Hungarian Prime Minister; |
| the Hungarian Minister to the United States; | |
| Mr. Marik, Counselor [Page 314] of the Hungarian Legation; | |
| the Acting Secretary; | |
| Mr. Hickerson; | |
| Mr. Barbour; | |
| Mr. Tihany. |
Mr. Acheson received the Hungarian Prime Minister and the Minister to the United States at 4:45 PM, June 14 to deliver to them the reply to their various inquiries promised during the call on the previous day.
Mr. Acheson first remarked that as regards frontiers and minorities problems, the Department is unable to comment in the absence of the Secretary. He then handed the Prime Minister a memorandum, a copy of which is attached,25 containing the Department’s replies to the questions raised.
After the document was translated to him the Prime Minister expressed his great appreciation and wished to inquire specifically concerning some of the points contained in the memorandum. He asked whether the provision with regard to gold and restitution of property implied any commitment by Hungary to make compensation for damage to American property. Mr. Acheson replied that it did not. The Prime Minister then stated that our position with regard to aviation and Hungarian economic information was, in his view, most reasonable. He promised to raise the aviation matter again with the Hungarian Cabinet upon his return to Budapest and stated that he hoped for a favorable decision. As concerns information he requested that we raise the matter with the ACC again after his return to Budapest. Mr. Acheson stated we will do so.
The conversation was then concluded with an exchange of courtesies during which Mr. Acheson informed the Prime Minister that he left the United States with many friends not only for Hungary but also for himself personally.
- Not printed; for a summary, see telegram 2875, Secdel 274, June 15, to Paris, infra.↩