155. Editorial Note
At the Acting Secretary’s Staff Meeting at 9:15 a.m. on November 2, the following topics were discussed:
“Intelligence Failure—Mr. Murphy said that it should not go unremarked that in the three separate crises of Poland, Hungary and the Middle East there had been no notice whatsoever from intelligence sources and that there seemed to be a complete lack of any intelligence which could have permitted an anticipation of the events. . . . ”
Discussion on Hungary followed:
“Hungary—Mr. Hoover felt that the Hungary situation was being lost and that we should have very promptly a review of what actually has gone on and particularly what we have done so that adequate publicity attention could be kept on the situation. Mr. Beam stated that we still are not sure what we can do until we know more of the government with which we would deal. Mr. Hoover wanted included in the round-up of activity a good analysis of the aid and in so doing he asked Mr. Murphy to move ahead on the disaster relief under PL–480 of up to $30 million worth.” (Department of State, Secretary’s Staff Meetings: Lot 63 D 75)
The President issued a statement on November 2 authorizing “an initial allocation of $20 million from the funds appropriated by the Congress for emergency use, to be employed for food and other urgent relief necessary for the alleviation of their [the Hungarian people’s] sufferings.” For full text, see Department of State Bulletin, November 12, 1956, page 764.