CARDINAL’S LETTER TO HUNGARIAN MINISTER OF JUSTICE

Wanganui Chronicle, 5 February 1949, Page 5

CARDINAL’S LETTER TO HUNGARIAN MINISTER OF JUSTICE

The full text of the letter which Cardinal Mindszenty sent to the Hungarian Minister of Justice was as follows: "I beg the Minister to consider the favour I am asking. There have been for some time repeated charges, even from official sources, made against me that I am standing in tfie way of peace between the state and the Church, and that my attitude to the present system of Government is inimical About the former, it is a fact that I have always readily emphasised the preconditions. Now I wish to make my contribution to general peace." The cardinal's letter continued: "Before the court trial opens, I admit that essentially I am guilty of the acts with which I am charged, according to the State criminal code. In future I shall always judge the external and internal events of the Hungarian Slate on a basis of the sovereignty of the Hungarian Republic In view of this recognition and statement regarding my person, the trial does not seem to be absolutely necessary. Therefore, not on account of my person but on account of my position, I ask that my case be withdrawn from trial. Such a decision would make developments easier, even more than a trial under the most advantageous conditions.” The letter added that after 35 days of constant meditation he now considered the establishment of true peace between the Church and State to be urgent. In order that not even his presence should hamper Ibis peace and that every effort could be concentrated towards avoiding obstacles, he voluntarily stated that lie was willing to withdraw from his office for a time. The letter continued: “I would not oppose concluding an agreement, oven at the Holy See, which has the final word. I. make this announcement in a knowledge of the fact that a true state of peace would be to the advantage o£ both the State and the

.Church, without wiiich file country ! wo?Jd be threatened by decay.” ' Cardinal Mindszenty’s letter ad- ! mil ted that his attitude had delayed i a reconciliation between the State |and the Church. He said if a majority of the bench of bishops decided that it would be beneficial to con- ! elude an agreement, he was willing to take part in making it. Five hours after Cardinal Minds'zenty entered the box, the prosecutor [produced a letter which the cardinal admitted he wrote to the American Legation in Budapest, asking for a car and a plane. “There is no other way out,” he said The letter read. “Mr Minister, action must be taken before Thursday. The trial is pointed against America and they also wish to prove that I received money from America for espionage I ask for a car and a plane. There is no other way out.” (Signed) Mindszenty. Cardinal Mindszenty admitted that he wrote the letter about 10 days ago. A Io the letter asked that the bearer of the letter should arrange the escape. Another postscript offered tZe pilot of the escape plane 4000 dollars. The president of the court asked the Cardinal if Chapin, the American Minister, had offered during a talk in November, 1948, to assist him to escape. The Cardinal replied that Chapin had made the offer, but he preferred to stay in Hungary.