661.6431/11–1945: Telegram
The Representative in Hungary (Schoenfeld) to the Secretary of State
[Received 5:35 p.m.]
934. Foreign Minister72 called today and informed me that Soviet Minister is pressing for ratification by new Hungarian Government of the Soviet Hungarian economic collaboration agreement. He said British Government has also invoked its treaty of commerce with Hungary dated in 1926 along similar lines to those invoked by ourselves (Deptel 590, October 26) in pursuance of our treaty of 1925 with Hungary.73 I gathered from Foreign Minister that Soviet Government denies the validity of these treaties by reason of existence of state of war with Hungary which, of course, was mentioned in our representations. Foreign Minister was particularly concerned that Hungarian Government might not have sufficient time to work out general reconstruction program for submission to principal Allied Governments as it has intended to do before being obliged to ratify collaboration agreement, thereby prejudicing long range reconstruction plan. I understand Soviet Minister takes position that ratification of agreement would in no way prejudice conclusion of similar agreements by Hungary with other governments.
Foreign Minister asked what our attitude would be in event of ratification of collaboration agreement. I told him I would submit his inquiry to you in confidence and advise him of your reply which is urgently requested.
Sent Department, repeated to London as 54 and Moscow as 108.
- Janos Gyöngyösi continued as Foreign Minister in Cabinet formed by Prime Minister Tildy on November 15.↩
- For text of the British note verbale addressed to the Hungarian Government, November 19, 1945, concerning the Soviet-Hungarian economic collaboration agreement, see Stephen D. Kertesz, Diplomacy in a Whirlpool: Hungary between Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia (Notre Dame, Indiana, University of Notre Dame Press, 1953), p. 261.↩