864.00/7–2346: Telegram
The Minister in Hungary (Schoenfeld) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 25—7:10 a.m.]
1348. Mytel 1301, July 15.54 According to Balogh this morning Soviets reacted to our protest by Pushkin instructing Interior Minister Rajk55 through Rakosi to speed up dissolution church and youth organizations promised in Prime Minister’s reply to Sviridov letter (mytel 1281, July 11). Press announced few days ago decree of Interior Minister dissolving some two or three hundred such organizations including many not covered in Soviet recommendation. Rajk also was taking extreme measures in connection B List (mytel 1318, July 1856). Balogh said Prime Minister took Rakosi to task for Rajk’s action which had not gone through usual channels nor been approved by Assembly. Rakosi indicated he would instruct Rajk to retract if latter had exceeded authority.
Smallholders wish to get rid of Rajk but only possibility accomplishing this is resignation entire govt and reformation which according to Balogh would not happen until after peace treaty signed. Meanwhile he confirmed policy of Smallholders governmental leaders is to play for time.
Balogh said Mindszenty protest on dissolution Catholic organizations was this time restrained and well-considered and indicated [Page 326] Cardinal had guidance (mytel 1350, July 2357). All church groups were united in present crisis. Balogh expects demonstrations next few weeks by leftist bloc but said these would be offset by huge Smallholders mass meeting in Budapest St Stephens Day August 20. It is his opinion however no major political events will occur until after currency stabilization and peace treaty (mytel 1325, July 1958) and that peasant unrest is not at this moment explosive.
[In a note of July 23, 1946, to Soviet Foreign Minister Molotov, Ambassador Smith renewed the request of the United States Government for tripartite action to halt the disintegration of the Hungarian economy. For text of note, see Department of State Bulletin, August 4, 1946, page 229.
In a note to Ambassador Smith dated July 27, 1946, Soviet Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Dekanozov replied to Ambassador Smith’s note of July 23 on the Hungarian economic situation. For text of the Soviet note, see Department of State Bulletin, August 11, 1946, page 263.
On July 27, 1946, the Department of State issued a statement to the press regarding the request by the United States for action to halt Hungarian economic disintegration. For text of statement, see Department of State Bulletin, August 4, 1946, page 229.]
- Not printed, but for substance see telegram 1304, July 16, from Budapest, supra.↩
- Laszlo Rajk, who was a leader of the Hungarian Communist Party.↩
- Not printed.↩
- Not printed. Cardinal Mindszenty’s letter of protest to Prime Minister Nagy is printed in Cardinal Mindszenty Speaks (New York, London, Toronto: Longmans, Green and Co., 1949), p. 98.↩
- Not printed.↩