CFM Files
Memorandum by the Acting Chief of the Division of Southern European Affairs (Reber)40
In a conversation yesterday with Jan Masaryk, Foreign Minister of Czechoslovakia, he informed me in the strictest confidence that he is prepared to consider an adjustment of the frontier with Hungary if such a cession will solve the question of the transfer of Hungarian minorities. As this is contrary to the expressed views of the Czechoslovak Government he does not wish anything said about it at this [Page 123] stage of the Conference but has indicated that if Czechoslovakia does not receive satisfaction with regard to the expulsion of the Hungarian minorities this may provide a solution. The U.S. position, which has consistently been maintained and which has been made known both to Czechoslovakia and Hungary is opposed to the transfer of populations except for the transfer of Germans provided under the Potsdam Agreement.41 Mr. Masaryk’s suggestion therefore provides in our opinion the best possible solution provided the cession of the territory is adequate for this purpose.
According to the Secretary of the Hungarian delegation, his Government has in mind proposing an exchange of territory and will undertake through Count Karolyi to sound out the Czech Government in this respect. They will keep us informed of any developments.
- Addressed to Mr. Cohen, Ambassador Smith, and Mr. Matthews.↩
- For documentation on United States policy regarding the Hungarian-Czecho-slovakian exchange of populations question, see vol. vi, pp. 361 ff. For the text of the decision on the transfer of German populations contained in the Protocol of Proceedings of the Potsdam Conference, see Foreign Relations, The Conference of Berlin (The Potsdam Conference), 1945, vol. ii, p. 1495.↩