America's Strong Note

Northern Advocate, 13 June 1947, Page 7

America's Strong Note

The U.S. Secretary of State (Mr Marshall) told a Press conference that he had not yet received a reply from the Russian authorities at Budapest to the United States Note protesting against the recent reorganisation of the Hungarian Government. The United States Note strongly protested against the recent Communist coup in Hungary and charged the Soviet with violation of the Yalta Agreement and flagrant interference with Hungarian political affairs. It demanded an urgent investigation of the Hungarian political situation by a commission representing Britain, America and Russia.

The Note said that Russia had clearly violated the armistice terms by keeping Britain and America ignorant of the Hungarian developments which had resulted in a minority nullifying the expressed will of the Hungarian people. Unless Russia agreed to the proposed inquiry or other adequate investigation, the Note said, the United States would “consider such further action as might be appropriate. The Daily Express says the British Ambassador in Moscow (Sir Maurice Peterson) will see M. Molotov a second tirne to discuss the Hungarian situation.

He will present a firm protest from Mr Bevin about Russia's attitude on keeping information from other members of the Allied Control Commission. j He is also expected to protest against charges of interference in Hungary’s affairs which M. Molotov made against Britain. If the interview is unsatisfactory Britain may send a formal Note to Russia, demanding a statement on the events that led to the Hungarian crisis.

In Budapest, the Ministry of the Interior has published evidence against the former Prime Minister (M. Nagy) alleged to have been given by his secretary (M. Ferenc Kapocs). He is said to have stated that M. Nagy was “playing a double game,’ that he conspired against the Hungarian Republic, was in contact with the pre-war leader of the Smallholders' Party (M. Tibor Eckhardt) who is in exile in the United States, and had agreed to a proposal to form a Right Wing bloc.

A Communist deputy (M. Revao), said in the Assembly that the Communists were not opposed to the Western Powers and were prepared to accept a loan for reconstruction, but domestic policy could not be decided either in Washington or Moscow.