Letter From Catholic Cardinal Of Hungary To Minister Of Justice Causes Some Surprise

Wanganui Chronicle, 5 February 1949, Page 5

Letter From Catholic Cardinal Of Hungary To Minister Of Justice Causes Some Surprise

Further Evidence At Trial, On Charges Of Treason, Of Cardinal Mindszenty

BUDAPEST, Feb. 4 (Rec. 11 pm).*—The trial of the Catholic Primate of Hungary, Cardinal Mindszenty, on charges of high

treason, was continued today. Cardinal Mindszenty, a man of middle height with close cropped grey hair, answered his accusers in precise, metallic voice, with occasional gestures with bis index finger.

“The Times” correspondent said there was no suggestion in his appearance that he had been violently treated during his six weeks in prison; nor that he was not master of his words in court- He surprised some people with his admission that he had written a letter to the Minister ol Justice —contradicting his previous attitude—and expressing willingness to withdraw from arch bishopric if it would help agreement between the church and the State.

The correspondent continues: “If the answers which he began to give the court this evening bear out the tone of this letter, it will be necessary, either to assume that he collapsed under distress ot imprisonment or to revise the view of him as a man resolved on martyrdom.” The correspondent said some people expected that the cardinal might break down after a long period in prison. Some of the Bench of Bishops privately had not supported his| policy and, according to reliable information, the Archbishop of Eger, Monsignor Csapik, who recently has had several talks with important Communists, visited the Cardinal in prison and was told of the Cardinal s wish to alter his attitude in return for freedom of the bishops. He immediately bed a conference and on Wednesday issued a most conspicuously mild statement saying that they did not intend to intervene at the trial and trusted to the “wise discretion of the Government." When the prosecutor asked Carai? nal Mindszenty whether he understood the treason charges and whether he felt himself guilty, the Cardinal answered: “I feel guilty insofar as I have committed the deeds charged against me, nor do I disagree with the details of the indictment.” He added, however, that he could not accept the conclusions drawn from these deeds that his activities had been directed as a plot “to overthrow the Democratic regime, the Hungarian Republic.” 4 . . The first accused to oe questioneu was Dr. Baranyi, a former Catholic editor, who was in the witness box for two hours. The Cardinal's secretary, Dr. Andras Zakar, was next to be called. He pleaded guilty. He reminded the court that, as a priest, he was obliged to carry out his superior’s orders. Dr. Baranayi had pleaded not guilty to the treason charge, but during his two hours’ questioning he admitted all the charges against him and implicated other leaders in the pre-war aid post-war Royalist movement in Hungary, including Cardinal Mindszenty. He admitted discussing a restoration of the monarchy with the Cardinal, and described plans to establish a monarchy after a possible third world war and an American victory. AMERICA INFORMED, Dr. Baranayi said the American Legation in Budapest had been fully informed of the plans o£ his group. He added that one memorandum drafted in the autumn of 1947 had not been transmitted to the Americans because he and others fell it would be unwise to record their belief that war was then inevitable and about to break out, and that there were secret plans in case of such a war. Dr. Baranayi then spoke of the rivalry of several Hungarian Royalist groups stating that his own circle and Cardinal Mindszenty had been anxious to prevent the return to Hungary of the pre-war Regent. Admiral Horthy, following an American victory against the Soviet Union. To prevent such an attempt it was his group's intention to proclaim Cardinal Mindszenty temporary head o£ the State until Otto von Hapsburg could be returned to be crowned* with the 1000-year-old crown of St. Stephen. Under these conditions Hungary was to have been part of a central European federation o£ Catholic countries.

Dr. Baranayi said he had drawn up a list, which he had shown to the Cardinal, of a government which could take over in the event of the present regime being displaced. His plan, he said, would include a national plebiscite on tlie question of a renewal of the monarchy. Dr. Zakar was then questioned for two hours. He described in detail the alleged relations of Cardinal Mindszenty with Cardinal Spellman, Archbishop of New York, and Archduke Otto von Hapsburg and the United States Minister in Budapest, Mr. Seldon Chapin. MEETINGS IN NEW YORK. Dr. Zakar said he attended one meeting in New York between the two Cardinals, but waited in an anteroom while the primate conferred with Archduke Otto, and on another occasion with the archduke’s mother, the former Empress Zita.

Dr. Zakar said that both cardinals expressed a high opinion of the archduke. Cardinal Spellman said that Otto was a very serious person and he believed leading American political circles also thought well of him. Dr. Zakar said he understood the cardinals had discussed the then recent appointment of Mr. Chapin to Budapest and had expressed the hope that he would present a much tougher American line. Dr. Zakar also alleged that Cardinal Spellman had told Cardinal Mindszenty that Hungarian royalists should hold themselves ready in case of an opportunity to take power. Dr. Zakar also alleged that Cardinal Spellman had spoken of a post-third world war European bloc under American auspices.

Dr. Zakar added that Mr. Chapin was fully informed of the cardinal's royalist activities, as well as hi s other political activities. Chapin had asked the cardinal to submit documents to him, with political and other information.

Dr. Zakar said that the cardinal had told Chapin of efforts made to influfluence the Hungarian elections. The Catholic Church had given money to certain political candidates and local priests had received detailed instructions. FINANCIAL DEALINGS. Dr. Zakar referred to certain financial dealings, including the receipt from Vatican antj American sources of tens of thousands of dollars, which he admitted were not changed or reported at the National Bank. Dr. Zakar said, however, that Cardinal Mindszenty had never personally handled any money, but always turned it over io Zigmund Mihalovicz, director of the Hungarian Catholic Action (Mihalovicz escaped from Hungary nnd has been charged with having worked as a spy for the United States).