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Richard Lettis: The Hungarian Revolt |
Thursday, November 1, 1956
RADIO FREE KOSSUTH
0858 "On October 31, 1956, delegates of the National Committees
of Trans-Danubia set up the Trans-Danubian National Council, with headquarters
in Gyor. The Council fully identifies itself with the heroic freedom fighters.
Every county in Trans-Danubia is represented by two delegates and county
capitals and the city of Gyor will each be represented by two delegates.
"Within the next 24 hours, the Trans-Danubian National [59/60]
RADIO FREE KOSSUTH,
IN FRENCH TO EUROPE
1300 Text of the telegram sent by Nagy to the President of the Presidium
of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR:
"The government of the Hungarian People's Republic wishes to begin
immediate negotiations on the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Hungarian
territory. With reference to the latest declaration of the Soviet government
. . . [that] it is ready to negotiate with the Hungarian government and
other member States of the Warsaw Pact on the withdrawal of Soviet troops
from Hungary, the Hungarian government invites the Soviet government to
appoint a delegation so that talks can begin as soon as possible. It requests
that the Soviet government designate the time and place.
"Cardinal Mindszenty . . . received representatives of the Hungarian
and foreign press, radio and television in Buda Palace.
He said: 'After long imprisonment, I greet all the sons of the Hungarian
nation. I bear no hatred against anyone. ..The struggle being waged for
[Hungarian] liberty is unparalleled in world history. Our young men deserve
all the glory. They deserve our gratitude and . . . our prayers. .
"The situation in the country is very serious and all conditions for
continuing normal life are absent. A way towards fruitful development must
be found as soon as possible. I am collecting information and in two days
I shall speak to the nation about ways towards a solution."
Press reviews:
Report that an article by Anna Kethly in Nepszava warns against
the counterrevolutionary dangers which still exist and which "threaten
the ideological substance and goals of the revolution. . . . Freed from
one prison, let us not permit the country to become a prison of another
color. Let us watch over the factories, mines and the land, which must
remain in the hands of the people."
"Nepakarat, organ of the National Council of Free Trade Unions,
announces that the Chairman of the Central Council of Trade Unions has
resigned and that a provisional executive commit-tee composed of revolutionary
leaders and former trade union leaders who were imprisoned or 'put on index'
has taken over. [The paper says that] the committee has issued an announcement
stating that ... the trade unions are independent of the government and
all political parties, ... and [will not] surrender their right to strike.
. . . The committee has decided that Hungarian Trade Unions will no longer
belong to the [Communist dominated] World Federation of Trade Unions.
Magyar Fuggetlenseg, organ of the National Revolutionary Committee:
"Nagy must free himself from the forces of reaction. He can do so
now because the country is still on his side; it is still possible to repair
the mistakes committed by the government on October 23. We shall not yield
and we will struggle against the restoration of capitalism with the same
force with which we ousted Rakosi and Gero. . . . Do not abuse the patience
of the rebelling people. . . . Perhaps we are one minute away from the
12th hour and that minute may mean life or death."
Review of the situation in the provinces: reports that at Debrecen Soviet
troop movements were noted [62/63]
1856 "Imre Nagy at the microphone:
"People of Hungary: The Hungarian national government, imbued with
profound responsibility towards the Hungarian people and history, declare
... the neutrality of the Hungarian People's Republic. . . The revolutionary
struggle fought by the Hungarian people and its heroes has at last carried
the cause of freedom and independence to victory. The heroic struggle has
made it possible to implement . . our fundamental national interest -neutrality.
We appeal to our neighbors to respect the irrevocable decision of our people.
. . . Working millions of Hungary, protect and strengthen the consolidation
of order in our country ... -free, independent, democratic and neutral
Hungary!
2039 Statement by Ferenc Farkas on behalf of the Petofi Party:
"So long as the Soviet government has not effected withdrawal of its
troops from the country, the Petofi Party cannot accept any part in the
government... [Our] fight was conducted for freedom, independence and democracy.
Al though the fight for freedom has triumphed, it has not yet achieved
all its objectives. For the sake of attaining these objectives, the Petofi
Party calls for a referendum within three days on the immediate abrogation
of the Warsaw Pact. By this proposal, we wish to lend support to the decision
of the Imre Nagy government. .
"A supreme national council, headed by composer Zoltan Kodaly, should
be formed and include representatives of the armed insurgents, the democratic
par ties and the Writers' Union. The council should be the supreme [organ]
of governmental power in the revolutionary period. . . . Formation of a
supreme national council . . . would mean that the government, one section
of which is re sponsible for the outhreak of the revolution, would fall
at once."
2100 "Dear listeners, Janos Kadar will now speak to the Hungarian
people:
"Hungarian workers, peasants and intellectuals. . . . In a glorious
uprising our people have shaken off the Rakosi regime. They have achieved
freedom for the people and independence for the country, without which
there can be no Socialism. We can safely say that . . . those who prepared
this uprising were recruited from our ranks. Communist writers, journalists,
university students, the youth of the Petofi Club, thousands and thousands
of workers and peasants and veteran fighters who were imprisoned on false
charges fought in the front lines against Rakosi's despotism and political
hooliganism. We are proud that you have stood your ground honestly in the
armed uprising. . . . You were permeated by true patriotism and loyalty
to Socialism. .
"We have come to a crossroads in our uprising. The Hungarian democratic
parties must [now] choose between stabilizing our achievements or facing
an open counterrevolution. . . . We did not fight in order that mines and
factories might be snatched from the hands of the working class and the
land from the hands of the peasantry. . . . Either the uprising secures
the basic achievements of democracy ... or we sink back into the slavery
of the world of the gentry . . . and into the service of foreigners. The
grave and alarming danger exists that foreign armed intervention [64/65]
RADIO FREE KOSSUTH,
IN FRENCH TO EUROPE
1900 "The Revolutionary Committee of the Budapest City Council held a meeting today in City Hall. The meeting was presided over by former Mayor Peter Bechtler[11] . . . The Committee discussed problems of interest to the population of the capital. It was found that the remains of the victims of the bloody struggle is an important problem. . . . The gas works have at present sufficient supplies for 20 days, but the electricity supply is not so good. In a few days it will be necessary to introduce restrictions. There is no difficulty with regard to water supplies. Great difficulties have arisen concerning garbage collection ... As regards food supplies of the capital, the situation is good. Ninety percent of the food shops and restaurants are open. The country is giving large-scale assistance to the Budapest population ... [66/67]
RADIO FREE KOSSUTH
0835 "Throughout Heves County [northeast of Budapest] the situation is relatively quiet and calm. Plowing and sowing went on yesterday in all the villages, and in nearly every village collections were made to help feed the population of Budapest. Every day some 10 to 20 food trucks are sent to Budapest. The radio speech made last night by Imre Nagy was received with pleasure throughout the country. The people are glad that at last the government is actively proving that it is truly at the head of the revolution and is carrying out the people's demands. Now the Soviet response to the declaration is awaited and the people in the county want the country to be informed of events quickly. The organization of the new democratic parties began yesterday throughout the country. In Bekescsaba [town in southeast], too, the announcement made by Imre Nagy was received with pleasure. The strike continues. Shops, however, are reopening and teaching is being resumed in the schools...." [67/68]
1300 "Laszlo Ravasz, Calvinist bishop, has been restored as head
of the diocese of the Danube district. The weekly, Az Ut, is to
cease publication and its place will be taken by a new Protestant weekly,
Reformacio, under the direction of Bishop Ravasz. Janos Peter, Bishop
of the Trans-Tisza region, has been asked to resign, as has Bishop Albert
Bereczky, particularly in view of his present grave illness. Several of
the lay leaders have also resigned. In a broadcast statement, Bishop Ravasz
has said: 'The Reformed Church of Hungary renders homage and admiration
to the heroes of the national insurrection.
The Church is proud of the purity of this revolution. . . . It is with
humility that we have to confess that the Church, as a temporal institution,
had become more committed than she was forced to do by the error and cunning
of political power to which she is vitally opposed. She asks for the help
of all the world's Christian Churches and in particular the brotherly help
of the World Council of Churches and of the World Presbyterian Alliance
so that she may follow the true road which she has again discovered. .
. . Let nobody think of a restoration of the regime of past eras.
"Most of this morning's papers note with pleasure the declaration
of the Chinese government concerning the just claims of the Polish and
Hungarian peoples. . . . Nepakarat, organ of the Federation of Free
Hungarian Trade Unions, carries an article on foreign policy approving
the appeal broadcast yesterday by Imre Nagy. It says: 'As of today we are
no longer the tool of a colonialism dis guised as Socialism, nor a figure
on the chessboard of any conqueror. . . . We are extending a friendly hand
toward the peoples, also to our neighbors in neutral Austria and to the
free Yugoslavia which remains outside any bloc, toward Romania, Czechoslovakia
and toward the people of the Soviet Union. We hope that their governments
will understand the thirst for freedom and national life of our little
nation. In these decisive hours this is the message we address to the whole
world and all its peoples who love freedom. . .
Nepszava, organ of the Social Democratic Party . . . says: 'In 1948
the Hungarian Social Democratic Party was forcibly buried. Hundreds of
its leaders were put in prison. Thousands of others were arbitrarily interned,
while those who devoted their whole life to the sacred cause of humanity
and the defense of justice for the poor were treated as common traitors.
Many of them died in prison. But we are reborn again. . . . Let us take
in hand again, as we did in Budapest, those trade union organizations which
had been taken away from us. . . . Let our fighting peasants join their
forces in order to frustrate all attempts for the reconstruction of the
large estates. . . . Let us defend our hard-won freedom and let us build
a neutral and democratic Hungary.' . .
RADIO FREE GYOR
1630 "Reflections about our situation:
"Imre Nagy's government, though not all its members, enjoys the confidence
of the people. There are some reservations regarding this government; the
nation demands the removal of some of its members and, let us add, demands
it with justification. However, the nation and Imre Nagy have attained
a common denominator. . . . Then why are the Soviet forces here? What is
more, why are more Soviet forces arriving in Hungary? . . . The very fact
that they are here irritates the people and creates the impression that
the Soviet Union is not greatly inclined to recognize the Hungarian people's
inalienable right to their independence and freedom. Life is slowly returning
to normal but there will be complete reassurance and contentment only when
the last Soviet soldier says goodbye to Hungary. [70/71]
1820 "The Hungarian government addressed three verbal notes to
the Soviet Embassy in Budapest today. The first note reminds the Soviet
Embassy that the Hungarian government asked the Soviet govemment last week
to begin immediate negotiations for the withdrawal of the Soviet troops
stationed in Hungary. At that time the Soviet government received this
proposal with approval, and the Soviet Ambassador made a similar statement
during his visit to the Hungarian Premier. Despite the aforementioned discussions,
says the verbal note, new Soviet formations regrettably crossed the Hungarian
frontiers on October 31 and November 1. "The Hungarian government
has exerted the greatest possible efforts to obtain the withdrawal of these
troops. Its steps, however, have proved to be in vain. Indeed, the Soviet
troops continued their advance and some units took up positions around
Budapest. Because of this the Hungarian government repudiated the Warsaw
Pact on November 1, 1956. In the view of the Hungarian government, Hungarian-Soviet
relations must be based on respect for Hungarian neutrality and on the
principles of complete equality, sovereignty and non-interference in each
other's internal affairs. In order to achieve this, the Hungarian government
proposes that immediate negotiations, held on the basis of the above-mentioned
principles, should begin between the representatives of the Hungarian and
the Soviet governments about implementing the repudiation of the Warsaw
Pact, with special regard to the withdrawal, with6ut delay, of the Soviet
troops stationed in Hungary. The members of the Hungarian government delegation
are Geza Losonczy, Minister of State and head of the delegation, Jozsef
Kovago, Andras Marton, Ferenc Farkas and Vilmos Zentai.[12]
"The second note deals with the military aspects of the same problem,
and proposes that the mixed committee charged with preparing the withdrawal
of Soviet troops should begin its work on November 2, that is, immediately,
in the building of the Hungarian parliament. The Hungarian government has
nominated the following members to the preparatory mixed committee: Ferenc
Erdei, Minister of State, Major General Pal Maleter, Major General Istvan
Kovacs and Colonel Miklos Szucs.
"The third verbal note contains another protest against the military
movements of Soviet troops in Hungary. It points out, once again, that
new Soviet troops crossed the frontier on November 2, that is, today, and
have occupied railway lines and railway stations on the way. In western
Hungary Soviet troop movements can be observed in an East-West direction.
"To Mr. Dag Hammarskjold, Secretary-General of the United Nations,
New York:
"Your Excellency, the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the
Hungarian People's Republic wishes . . . to bring the following supplementary
information to the knowledge of Your Excellency:
"I have already mentioned in my message of November 1 that new Soviet
military formations had entered Hungary, that the Hungarian government
had informed the Soviet Ambassador about this, that it had repudiated the
Warsaw Pact, that it had declared Hungary's neutrality and had turned to
the United Nations to guarantee the neutrality of the country. On November
2 the government of the Hungarian People's Repuhlic received new important
information, Army reports, according to which considerable Soviet mili
tary formations have crossed the country's frontier. They are advancing
toward Budapest, occupying railway lines, railway stations, railway traffic
installations and so forth on their way. Reports have also been received
about Soviet troop movements, in an East- West direction, in western Hun-gary.
"In view of the above-mentioned facts the Hungarian government deems
it necessary to inform the Soviet Embassy in Budapest and the other diplomatic
missions accredited to Budapest about the steps directed against our People's
Republic. The Hungarian government has at the same time made concrete proposals
to the Soviet government concerning the withdrawal of Soviet troops stationed
in Hungary, and the place for negotiations concerning implementation of
the repudiation of the Warsaw Pact, and has also communicated the names
of the Hungarian governmental delegation. In addition to this, the Hungarian
government has proposed to the Soviet Embassy in Budapest the setting up
of a mixed committee to prepare for the withdrawal of Soviet troops.
"I ask Your Excellency to call on the Great Powers to recognize Hungary's
neutrality. The Security Council should instruct the Soviet and the Hungarian
governments to begin negotiations immediately. I ask Your Excellency to
inform the members of the Security Council about the above facts, and to
accept the expression of my sincere esteem. [71/72]
RADIO FREE KOSSUTH,
IN FRENCH TO EUROPE
2300 "Further information has reached us on Friday regarding the movements of Soviet units in Hungary, especially in the eastern counties. On Friday morning two Soviet armored trains entered the frontier station of Zahony. After occupying this station the Soviet troops are reported to have taken over the line from Zahony to Nyiregyhaza. According to the Miskolc University radio station, during the night of Thursday to Friday a large armored unit arrived in the village of Kisvarda. Debrecen also announces the uninterrupted transit of Soviet troops. Coming from the east, units of tanks and automatic machine guns have been in transit through Szolnok in a westerly direction. In the opposite direction only supply cars were seen to pass. Between Szolnok and Abony, where some 200 tanks had entrenched themselves for several days, these have now left their position in a westerly direction. The MTI [official press service] office at Szolnok denies the report that Soviet troops have occupied the airport of the town. Soviet formations are stationed around the airport but they have not yet tried to take possession of it. Even at Pecs the airport has not been occupied. On Thursday and Friday battalions of tanks arrived in the area of Gyoengyoes and entrenched themselves there. Soviet troops are camping in the Nagyrede area. In none of the above mentioned places has a single Soviet soldier camped for the past few years. A Soviet armored corps stationed near Dombovar has surrounded the airport of Taszar, a few kilometers from Kaposvar. Soviet troop reconnaissance scouts have advanced as far as the suburbs of Kaposvar. There were no incidents. In the evening the arrival of some 20 Soviet trucks was announced, carrying infantry from Zahony to Nyiregyhaza. At Beregsurany some 50 motorized artillery batteries have crossed the Hungarian-Soviet frontier...." [73/74]
1830 "Railway traffic was resumed on certain lines Friday. . .
. At present, shunting has started with five locomotives at Ferencvaros
[in Budapest], the country's biggest railway yard. The formation of trains
has started at the [name unintelligible] on the bank of the Danube and
at the Rakos railway yard. The first train carrying medicines arrived from
Hegyeshalom at the Kelenfoeld [Budapest] station Friday at noon. Reports
from Miskolc state that traffic has been resumed also in the area of the
railway directorate in Miskolc. Railway workers are striving to insure
that as many workers' trains as possible are operating Saturday at dawn,
especially in mining and industrial regions ...
|
Richard Lettis: The Hungarian Revolt |