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Richard Lettis: The Hungarian Revolt |
Monday, October 29, 1956
RADIO BUDAPEST, HOME SERVICE
1400 "The executive committee of the Budapest City Council has
decided to rename Stalin Street the Street of Hungarian Youth; from now
on Stalin Bridge will be called Arpad Bridge and Stalin Square will be
called Gyorgy Dozsa Square."
"Fuel transportation began this morning. Some 300 or 400 loads of
fuel are now at the disposal of the population... Food workers made superhuman
efforts during the past few days to insure food supplies to Budapest. Some
260 trucks are delivering foodstuffs to various parts of
Budapest. . . . The delivery of mail wa resumed in the capital this morning."
"The National Trade Union Counci has welcomed the proposal made by
young workers to form their own organization.
The committee establishing the new Militant Organization of Young Workers
and Working Youth issues a communiqué urging young workers, technicians
and intellectuals to join and help elect leaders "who know all our
desires, problems and dreams and who are ready to fight with us for their
realization...
1617 "In accordance with an agreement reached with leaders of the
Budapest resistance groups, the insurgents are beginning to hand over their
arms to Hungarian troops relieving Soviet units. Within 24 hours after
they hand over their arms, the withdrawal of Soviet units from Budapest
will begin."
RADIO FREE GYOR
1215 "Attention Szombathely railway-men! Attention postal workers...
Today we are informed .. . . that Soviet units have begun to leave the
capital and are marching to . . . Lake Balaton ...towards their military
base." [36/37]
1238 "A four-member delegation representing professors and students
[in Sopron] has arrived in Gyor to present its demands. . . . Many of the
demands of the Sopron students agree with the demands made by the trade
unions and the Petofi Club . . . [but] they state that they do not agree
with the present composition of parliament and the government ... and do
not believe them suitable [organs] for drawing up a new electoral law.
They demand that a new parliament be formed from representatives of town
and village national councils... They demand a revision of our relations
to the Soviet Union and full compensation for damages caused by our dependence
on the Soviet Union... They do not agree with Imre Nagy's address yesterday
in which he announced that the security police would be disbanded. They
demand from the government an announcement that the security police has
already been dissolved
RADIO FREE MISKOLC
1300 The workers' council of Borsod County calls on all persons who
possess weapons and who are not members of the National Guard to report
to the Miskoic Bocskay Military Establishment and to enlist. "Those
who do not want to participate ... must turn in their weapons.
1300 "Many of you have asked about the time of the funeral for those
innocent students and Miskolc citizens who were massacred by security police
gangs. We wish to inform you that today funerals are taking place from
1100-1500 hrs. Tomorrow funerals will begin at 1400...
1340 "Attention Attention! Debrecen hospital! Munich has heard the
broadcast asking for iron lungs. Munich is doing its utmost to forward
. . . the lungs from Germany."
1420 "Since October 26th, there has been no end to funerals... Rakosi!
Gero! Other oppressors of the people! [37/38] Can you see the gravestones?
. . . Answer! Because the people will find you wherever you are hiding.
. . . We shall not be annihilated. . . . We have swept back the dirty tide
. . . which has brought you to the surface . . . and here, at the graves
of Hungarian martyrs, we declare firmly that the day of liberty has come...
RADIO BUDAPEST, HOME SERVICE
1905 "In the morning factories started work and shops were reopened
[but] certain irresponsible elements and armed groups are threatening the
restoration of normalcy and peace. Whoever continues to kindle the fire
of a civil war, whoever has not had enough Hungarian bloodshed and whoever
wants the roar of weapons instead of a cease-fire is harming the working
class and the people and intends the overthrow of the people's democratic
power. The government of Imre Nagy is a government of peace, creative work
and national independence. Workers, compatriots, Communists, do not permit
anyone to raise his arm against the power of the working class... 2030
Attention, attention. Tonight units of the Hungarian People's Army beegan
to replace Soviet troops in the Eighth District of Budapest and they will
insure the withdrawal of Soviet troops. At dawn Soviet troops will evacuate
the territory agreed upon with the headquarters of the resistance; at 2000
[GMT] the insurgents will lay down their arms. The replacement and undisturbed
withdrawal of Soviet troops are the prerequisites for the evacuation of
Soviet troops from the capital. . . . I call upon all true patriots to
support the Hungarian People's Army in carrying out this task suc cessfully
and to the satisfaction of the population of Budapest and the whole country...
Lt. Gen. Karoly Janza. Minister of Defense...
RADIO FREE GYOR
1800 "Russian troops have begun their withdrawal from Budapest.
We call on the population and on freedom fighters to refrain from attacking
them, for by doing so they will only delay peaceful settlement...
"The Debrecen hospital has made a request to the free world for some
kind of medicine but it was not possible to hear what kind they wanted."
[38/39]
Tuesday, October 30, 1956
RADIO BUDAPEST, HOME SERVICE
0533 "The Ministry of the Interior states that at dawn there was
peace all over the country. Although there still was some sporadic fighting,
there were no riots or armed clashes. . . . Several foreign planes are
expected to arrive in Budapest with blood plasma, medicines and foodstuffs."
0630 "As reported earlier, the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Budapest
... is in progress. Units of the Hungarian Army, the police, armed workers
and youth are taking over the job of maintaining order. At 0900 all fighting
must cease and armed groups still resisting shall then participate in restoring
peace and order. We will continue to inform you ... about the withdrawal
of Soviet roops ...
1132 Announcement by the National Free Organization of Independent Craftsmen
representing 90,000 artisans that the new government will "create
conditions for fulfilling the demands of independent craftsmen."
"The organization has been reassured that two of the most urgent demands
will be satisfied immediately- artisans' taxes will be reduced and they
will receive the raw material necessary for continuing their work. Other
demands will be discussed shortly by the government. These include . .
. creation of a unified tax system, abolition of the tax artisans have
to pay for employees, introduction of a tax allowance for children, tax
exemptions for artisans over 65 who work without employees, simplification
of the price system, and modification of laws unfair to craftsmen, as well
as extension of sickness and old age insurance to cover every artisan."
RADIO FREE GYOR
0820 Statement that the Gyor County National Council's appeal for a
general strike does not apply to electricity, water and gas workers, or
to workers in the food [39/40] industries or industries directly concerned
with production of consumer goods. [40/41]
RADIO FREE MISKOLC
1000 "The Hungarian people ask the UN to refuse to receive Peter
Kos, who is a traitor to his country, and not to listen to the declarations
he delivers in the name of the former and present Hungarian governments.
The Hungarian people ask the UN to intervene immediately in the interest
of Hungary. . . . The Hungarian people also ask the UN to entrust Hungarian
representation to a neutral State. For the time being, the Hungarian people
cannot send a delegate to the UN because they cannot elect the government
they want. [Rest of broadcast unintelligible.] 1100 "The following
news has been sent to us from the village of Csaroda in Szatmar County:
"We people of Csaroda wish to report that since the night of October
23, the Soviet Army has been moving several formations into our country.
According to latest announcements, Soviet troops will be withdrawn from
Budapest. Why then are new Soviet troops necessary? We demand immediate
action which will prevent the entry of Soviet troops into our country and
which will ensure their immediate withdrawal from Budapest. The government
must inform the people of the truth; it must keep its promise...
RADIO FREE SZOMBATHELY
0800 "We call upon the people of Szombathely . . . to express their
wishes and demands ... without any marching up and down. . . . We do not
want the people - . . to be troubled by treacherous provacateurs in demonstrations
where Hungarian blood may be shed. We call on the workers - . - to voice
their demands in disciplined meetings in their work places. However, they
must uphold the strike. . . . Radio Free Szombathely is fully independent
-and separate from Radio Free Gyor. By means of Radio Szombathely, the
County Vas National Committee transmits the uniform demands of the population
to the Hungarian government. These demands are: bloodshed must be stopped.
. . . Foreign troops must leave Budapest. ...The government must take immediate
measures to prevent the overwhelming numerical superiority of [Soviet]
forces from crushing . . . our Hungarian brothers. . . . Hungarians see
that [Soviet] soldiers have not yet left [41/42]
Budapest, that they are still shooting and have not received
orders to leave Budapest. - . . Nobody doubts that today, tomorrow or in
a month the last [Soviet] tanks will roll over the corpses of our last
fighting brothers. We are but a midget fighting a giant. . . . It was not
Hungarians who fired the first gun.
... How long does the government intend to wait before issuing a cease-fire
and ordering the recall of foreign troops from the capital? ... So long
as these demands are not fulfilled, the working people of County Vas will
maintain the strike. . . . We, the National Committee of County Vas . -
. declare that we want a free, independent, democratic and Socialist Hungary
headed by the govern ment of Imre Nagy. . . We demand that lmre Nagy freely
and independently exert power in the name of the people.
RADIO BUDAPEST, HOME SERVICE
1328 "Premier Imre Nagy and members of the government will now
address the Hungarian nation. Here is Premier Nagy:
"Hungarian workers, peasants, intellectuals. As a result of the revolution
and the mighty movement of democratic forces our nation has reached the
crossroads. The national government, acting in complete agreement with
the Presidium of the Hungarian Workers' Party, has arrived at a decision
vital to the nation's life...
"In the interests of further democratization . . . the Cabinet has
abolished the one-party system and has decided that we should return to
a system of government based on the democratic cooperation of the coalition
parties as they existed in 1945. In accordance with this decision, a new
Cabinet has been set up within the national government. Its members are
Imre Nagy, Zoltan Tildy, Bela Kovacs, Ferenc Erdei, Janos Kadar, Geza Losonczy[10]
and persons to be nominated by the Social Democratic Party. The govern.
ment will submit a proposal to the Presidential Council . . . . to appoint
Janos Kadar and Geza Losonczi Ministers of State.
"The natj'onal government appeals to the headquarters of the Soviet
Command to begin the immediate withdrawal of Soviet troops from Budapest.
At the same time we wish to inform the people of Hungary that we are going
to request the Soviet Union to withdraw all Soviet troops from Hungary.
"In the name of the national government I wish to declare that we
recognize all the autonomous democratic local authorities which were formed
during the revolution, that we rely on them and want their support.
"Fellow Hungarians! To safeguard the achievements of the revolution
we must first of all establish order. Fratricidal war must stop immediately.
Avoid all further disturbances!
"Minister of State Zoltan Tildy:
"The nation's will has been fulfilled and the national revolution
has triumphed. . . . I stand before the microphone deeply moved. I have
not written down my speech and therefore it may be disjointed. But I want
to congratulate Hungarian youth from the bottom of my heart. - . . I declare
before the HungarIan nation-before the whole world-that these young people
and the soldiers and workers who fought with them are not only worthy of
the youth of March 1848 but have surpassed March 15, 1848 by their heroic
struggle and . . . their achievements. The least the Hungarian nation can
do is to declare the day on which this struggle began a national holiday
in memory of their heroic battles. - . . The national government will bury
the heroes of the revolution with military honors and it will take generous
care of the wounded and the families of those heroes who fell in battle.
"In this connection, I want to ask the representatives of fighting
university youth to send their delegates to me at the parliament building.
Premier Nagy will also await them. We shall charge them with an official
mission: the formation of a National Guard Battalion to help restore order.
"I want to announce a few other measures. I inform the country that
Peter Kos, former representative of Hungary at the UN, has been recalled
and that a new UN delegation will be appointed which will represent the
views of this government.
"I want to say, too, that [compulsory] crop deliveries . . . will
be discontinued today. I am convinced that Hungary's farming population
will provide more supplies for urban dwellers and workers from now on.
. . . I also wish to say that all other justified demands of the peasantry
will be carefully examined by the government.
"The radio too . . . will become the radio of the entire Hungarian
nation. We shall see to it that those mistakes and errors in the past will
never again be repeated.
"I am convinced that the people and leaders of the Soviet Union will
see, once they negotiate with a free and not a humiliated nation, how different
our relationship [42/43]
is, how much greater the mutual understanding, respect
and love.
"Hungarians! A grave responsibility rests with all of us. We must
create a new national life. . . Freedom is not threatened by force alone;
it is also endangered by upheavals. . . . The government has acted correctly
in deciding to abolish one-party rule in Hungary. We declare that the people
of the country must decide the future of the nation freely and without
interference. Free elections will be held and we are making preparations
for them. The only danger to these elections would be our inability to
restore internal order.
Peace is the guardian of our future and I appeal to every Hungarian . .
. to feel this responsibility. . . . I ask university youth to help the
country restore order. .
"Finally I wish to say a few words to the leaders of my own party
. . . those leaders of the Independent Smallholders' Party who have been
hardened in political fights and who are still in this country. I ask those
men who were neither intimidated nor swayed from their convictions by despotism
and violence and who still hold the country's independence dear ... immediately
to take in hand the reorganization of the party in Budapest and the provinces.
They must freely call Hungarians to their ranks. - . - We must establish
a firm party organization as soon as p05sible and contribute to restoring
order and safeguarding the nation's future."
First Deputy Premier Ferenc Erdei: "We must now resolutely defend
the achievements of the revolution from attempts by those who would like
to turn back the clock. We must also defend the revolution from acts which
would result in complete anarchy and destroy the vital accomplishments
. . . of our people. We need all our democratic forces. For this reason,
I call upon all my Peasant Party colleagues to contact all former members
of the party, to re-establish its former organizations and to mobilize
its former members . . . to help secure order. I call on them to cooperate
with other coalition parties - . - oppose all forces which incite anarchy
and defend and consolidate the revolution and democracy."
Minister of State Janos Kadar:
"I want you to know that all the resolutions passed today by the Council
of Ministers have been fully approved by the Presidium of the Hungarian
Workers' Party and I want to add that I fully approve of all that was said
by the speakers before me -Imre Nagy, Zoltan Tildy and Ferenc Erdei- .
. . I speak to Communists, those Communists who were prompted by the progressive
ideas of mankind and Socialism to join the Party. . . . Comrades, owing
to the leadership of the past years our Party has been cast under a grave
shadow. We must rid our Party of this burden, of all the accusations hurled
at it. This must be done with a clear conscience and with ... courageous
resolve. The ranks of the Party will shake, but I am sure that no . . .
honest, sincere Communist will leave the Party. Those who joined us for
selfish personal reasons . . . will be the ones who leave. But having rid
ourselves of this ballast and the burden of past crimes committed by certain
persons in our leadership, we will fight . . . under more favorable conditions
for our ideas, our people, and our country. I ask every Communist individually
to set an example worthy of a man and a Communist by restoring order, beginning
normal life, resuming work . . . and laying the foundations of an ordered
life. Only by doing so can we earn the respect of our countrymen.
1406 "Dear listeners, we are beginning a new chapter in the history
of the Hungarian radio. For many years the radio has been an instrument
of lies: it merely carried out orders. It lied day and night; it lied on
all wave lengths. [43/44] Not even at the hour of our country's rebirth
did it cease its campaign of lies, but the struggle which . . . brought
national freedom also freed our radio. Those who spoke those lies are no
longer among the staff of the Hungarian radio, which will henceforth bear
the name of Kossuth and Petofi. We who are now at the microphone are new
men. We shall tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth...
1449 "Attention, attention! We are interrupting our program for a
very important message. Minister of State Zoltan Tildy told a workers'
delegation that he thinks it important that Primate Cardinal Jozsef Mindszenty
return to his seat in Esztergom and, by taking up his activities as Primate
of Hungary, take part . . . in the noble fight which counts on every true
patriot in these historic times.
1730 "We are now going to read to you the order of the day issued
by the Minister of Defense:
I have requested from the Command of the Soviet Armed Forces the immediate
withdrawal of its troops from the territory of . . . Budapest. The commander
of the Soviet troops having agreed, all Soviet troops stationed in Budapest
will begin their withdrawal on October 30 at 1500 hours and, according
to the plan, the withdrawal will be completed by dawn of October 31, 1956.
Concurrent with the withdrawal of Soviet troops, units of the Hungarian
People's Army and the police and National Guard will take over the maintenance
of order...
Karoly Janza, Minister of Defense [44/45]
RADIO FREE MISKOLC
1700 Statement by the Szabolcs-Szatmar County Revolutionary Council:
"Hungarians, it is we who are nearest to Zahony [town at Soviet border]
and it is our duty to alert you. This time we do not promise you a quiet
night. No . . . the cease-fire is sincere only if the armies remain in
position. After the cease-fire foreign troops advanced for two whole days.
For two days they let their tanks loose on the freedom fighters. . . .
The tanks are still here. But those Russian troops which were nearest the
frontier have turned back. They have departed. And so now we salute them,
and this salute will be heard beyond our frontiers..."
1715 "Just now it has been announced from Kisvarda that . . . many
thousands of tanks . . are pouring into our country. Motorized infantry
is advancing to Nyiregyhaza. New Russian units... Marshal Zhukov, do you
know of this? You must know...
1755 A four-point appeal by the National Air Defense Command to the Council
of Ministers demanding the withdrawal of all Soviet forces from Budapest
within 12 hours.
"Marshal Zhukov has given the order for withdrawal of Soviet troops.
. . . In Zahony, the withdrawal of troops is being organized. . . . We
ask the people to maintain discipline and help facilitate the untroubled
withdrawal of troops."
RADIO BUDAPEST, HOME SERVICE
1857 "At 1700 [GMT] negotiations started between Premier Imre Nagy
and representatives of the armed insurgent forces, the National Revolutionary
Committee, and the revolutionary intellectuals and youth. . . . The talks
are progressing favorably. The proposals of the insurgents wifl be presented
to the government by Premier Nagy.
1930 Announcement that a new Revolutionary Committee of Hungarian actors
has been formed and has joined the National Revolutionary Council of Intellectuals.
"It has also been decided that theaters will not be opened so long
as there are Soviet soldiers in the country. . . . We demand that a delegation
representing the true interests of the Hungarian people should be sent
to the UN immediately, that the security police should be completely disbanded
. . . and that all persons responsible for the bloodshed should be tried
in public."
1935 Radio Budapest comes on the air as "Radio Free Kossuth."
[45/48]
Wednesday, October 31, 1956
RADIO FREE KOSSUTH
0455 Notice that postal services are to be resumed during the day.
0700 "Last night Budapest was relatively calm. Only a few shots could
be heard here and there. . Soviet troops left . . early this morning."
News that transportation is still paralyzed in most of the country.
Announcement that following a proposal of the Revolutionary Military Council
the Minister of Defense has ordered changes in the army uniform, effective
that day. Insignia on hats to be replaced with the Kossuth crest. . . .
[48/49]
0955 Proclamation of the Representatives of the Revolutionary Forces and
the Revolutionary Council of the People's Army:
"1. We demand that after evacuating the territory of Budapest, Soviet
armed forces also evacuate the entire territory of Hungary. The members
of the undersigned committee are well aware of the necessity for diplomatic
relations, but they will not agree to the use of such relations as an excuse
for an indefinite stay of Soviet forces in the country.
"2. We demand from the government the immediate termination of the
Warsaw Pact, by informing the members of that Pact.
"3. The delegates of the Hungarian Revolutionary Youth Committee,
together with the delegates of the Revolutionary Council of the People's
Army, demand that Soviet forces evacuate the territory of Hungary by December
31, 1956. If this does not take place, we shall take up arms and fight
for the freedom of our country and the pure cause of the revolution, taking
our oath that as long as foreign weapons endanger our country we shall
fight for that country and thereby risk our lives and our security.
"4. We announce that we shall take up arms and fight against any foreign
or internal enemy who may cross our borders and endanger our independence.
"5. We demand that, if necessary, the Hungarian People's Army, with
the help of the Revolutionary Forces, take over the uranium ore quarries
in Hungary.
"6. Anyone who breaks the discipline of the Revolutionary Forces and
who does not carry out the orders of his commander damages the cause of
revolution. He must be brought before a revolutionary court.
"7. The representatives of the Revolutionary Forces, together with
the elected Revolutionary Committee of Hungarian Army Unity, form the Revolutionary
Committee of the Hungarian Army Forces. This Revolutionary Committee is
the su preme commanding organ of the Army. It has been agreed that for
the sake of public security, order and peace, the Armed Revolutionary Youth
will maintain order in cooperation with the Revolutionary Committee of
the [49/50]
Armed Forces and with the police. They will jointly arrest
and turn over to the independent justice of Hungary criminals and elements
that are alien to the people. We approve of the disbanding of the seeurity
police, and demand that no member of the security police become a member
of armed or police units.
"Signed: Representatives of the Revolutionary Forces and the Revolutionary
Council of the People's Army, Budapest, October 31, 1956
1100 "TASS reports from Moscow that the Soviet government has instructed
its military command to withdraw military formations from Budapest as soon
as the Hungarian government considers it appropriate. At the same time,
the Soviet government is ready to enter into negotiations with the government
of the Hungarian People's Republic and with other governments which are
party to the Warsaw Pact on the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Hungary
as well.
Summary of a report in Igarsag, paper of the Revolutionary Hungarian Army
and Youth:
"The reporter said that Soviet troops were already called in and martial
law announced when Imre Nagy became president of the Council. Thus he was
faced with a fait accompli. ... Even on Friday the Gero-Hegedus
clique wanted to force Imre Nagy to sign a pre-dated letter calling on
Soviet troops' to help crush the rebellion. Of course, Imre Nagy would
not sign this letter."
A proclamation of the Army Officers Cadet School demanding that the Army
"should at last be an independent national Army free from the influence
of any political party or trend."
"Attention, attention! We have just been informed by the . . . Ministry
of Defense that the Soviet tanks which had en circled the Ministry left
a few minutes ago...[50/51]
1237 Report from Magyar Honved, the new Army paper, on the freeing
of Cardinal Mindszenty:
"On Tuesday evening at 1900 [GMT] four officers and a driver received
information at the barracks of Retsag that security policemen were guarding
Primate Mindszenty in a room of the mansion house at Felsopeteny. The .
. . officers drove immediately to Felsopeteny, disarmed the 14 men who
were guarding the Primate, and drove him to the barracks in Retsag. The
Primate was immensely glad ... and wanted to travel to Budapest that very
night. Because the road seemed unsafe, the Primate was brought to Budapest
in the morning, between 0500 and 0515, in an armored car guarded by four
tanks. In all the villages they passed the people threw flowers to the
Primate and the soldiers. ... In Buda he is, at the moment, receiving various
delegations, and 15 minutes ago he gave his first press interview to the
correspondent of Magyar Honved:
"'I admire what the weapons of the youth, the soldiers, the university
students, the villagers, the peasants and the workers accomplished. After
eight years of imprisonment, they tore open the door of my prison. These
brave officers of Retsag cared for nothing, they came to the house where
I was imprisoned and took me along with them. I rested in the barracks.
I send my pontifical blessing to the Hungarian arms. I wish the glory acquired
by Hungarian arms to be multiplied by our peasantry when the need comes.
... I want to be informed of the situation before I do or say more.'"
1400 "The airlift is functioning well. Both yesterday and today a
large quantity of medicine and food arrived at Ferihegy Airport. The airlift
is operated by [number unintelligible] planes. Foreign relief consignments
which come among other places from Great Britain, Switzerland and Austria
are concentrated in Vienna and thence are taken by the regular airlift
service to Budapest. On Tuesday, 21 [foreign?] planes landed at Ferihegy
Airport, including Polish, Romanian, Belgian and Swiss planes. On Wednesday
the arrival of food and medicine ... is expected."
Listing of the new leadership of the Social Democratic Party: President,
Anna Kethly; First Secretary, Gyula Kelemen; Deputy, Dr. Andras Revesz.
"The great majority of the interim party leadership was imprisoned
during the years of Ra kosi's terror ... the party's newspaper Nepszava
will appear tomorrow.
1602 Announcement by the workers of the former National Air Defense Command:
"1... - We demand that our air defense be independent, free of all
political and party influences. ... [51/52]
"2. We demand that Soviet troops withdraw from our country and that
the governinent constantly inform the people of the progress of this withdrawal.
"3. We demand that Hungary become a neutral State, like Austria.
"4. We demand that free elections be held, without the supervision
of any foreign State.
"5. We demand that our uranium mines be placed under Hungarian control
immediately.
"6. We demand that public buildings which are now free be immediately
handed over for necessary apartments.
"7. We demand that every organ of air defense be immediately used
for the work of reconstruction, since it is in this way that they desire
to show their loyalty to the revolutionary movement.
"8. We undertake the immediate dismantling of the unexploded shells,
mines and hand grenades in Budapest.
"9. We place the stocks of our air raid defense stores and . . . drugs,
bandages and medical instruments at the disposal of the health authorities.
"Signed: The Revolutionary Committee of the National Center of Hungarian
Air Defense."
"This afternoon a large crowd gathered in Lajos Kossuth Square. Imre
Nagy came down from Parliament to the Kossuth Memorial and made a speech.
In this speech he emphasized that it was not he who demanded the aid of
Soviet troops, that this measure was taken without his knowledge. He declared
that simultaneous with our resignation from the Warsaw Pact we are asking
for the immediate withdrawal of Soviet troops. After the Premier's speech,
the crowd broke up into smaller groups and expressed its dissatisfaction
with the person of the Minister of the Interior, Ferenc Munnich."
Description of Cardinal Mindszenty's arrival at his palace in Buda. "As
early as 0700 [GMT] a growing crowd was gathering around the building in
Uri Street to greet the Cardinal. . . . Cardinal Primate Mindszenty appeared
on the balcony of the palace and spoke a few words of gratitude, after
which he gave his blessing to the people who were kneeling as far as the
eye could see. He then retired to his chapel, where he celebrated mass."
"The semi-official Hungarian Roman Catholic Press Information Service
took up its activities once again this morning, at 0900."
"The Ministry of Health today took over two important health institutions.
From now on the former security police hospital, Otto Corvin, will be under
the authority of the Minister of Health, and will serve the civilian population.
The hospital in Kutvolgyi Ut, which was until now reserved for Party functionaries,
will be at the service of general patients."
"The Ambassador of the Yugoslav People's Republic today called on
Premier Nagy and had an interview with him which lasted half an hour. .
. . A delegation of Csepel workers also had an interview with Imre Nagy
today. They assured him of their complete confidence. Their most urgent
demand was the immediate departure of the Soviet forces. . . - At the moment
Imre Nagy is conferring with the Trans-Danubian Revolutionary Committee.
A delegation from Cegled is waiting at his office to see him...
1700 Appeal to the workers from the temporary executive committee of the
National Federation of Free Hungarian Trade Unions:
"Workers, Hungarian toilers! The miraculous revolution of youth and
working people who have participated in the fighting has turned into a
revolution of tlie entire Hungarian [52/53]
people and nation. The national revolution of our people
has overthrown the rule of bureaucratic servants of foreign interest;.
Stalinist sectarian leaders have been removed, and factories have truly
and irrevocably come into the hands of the workers. This revolution has
also made the liberation of the trade union movement possible, so that,
independent of all Party and government influence, the trade unions can
indeed become a militant and consistent organization representing the interests
of the workers.
"On the recommendation of the temporary Revolutionary Committee of
the National Federation of Free Hungarian Trade Unions, the presidium of
the National Trade Union Council has been dissolved with immediate effect
and, with the inclusion of old and formerly imprisoned representatives
of the workers' movement, a temporary executive committee set up. The executive
committee asks workers, including organized workers, that wherever they
disagree with the composition of factory committees they should hold new
trade union elections on the basis of real trade union democracy.
"Workers, organized workers! It has become a general national demand
that we shall not resume work so long as Soviet troops remain in Budapest.
The government has promised . . . that the Soviet troops shall be withdrawn.
The radio will announce the implementation of this.
We demand that the government should negotiate definitely with the Soviet
government about the withdrawal of Soviet troops within a short time from
the whole country, and publish the deadline for it.
"We owe it to our youth, workers and army that the factories and workshops
have truly become ours. It is our turn now to defend our factories, if
need be with arms, and the magnificent achievements of our national revolution.
Appeal for help from the Hungarian Red Cross to the youth: "No one
knows the number of wounded ... [53/55]
RADIO FREE MISKOLC
1217 "Attention, attention! . . - As reported, the withdrawal of
Soviet units has begun. However, for reasons that we and the people of
the country do not understand, large Soviet forces -anti-aircraft units,
tanks and troops- have changed their direction and again entered the territory
of Hungary from Zahony in the direction of Nyiregyhaza. The reason for
this circular movement of Soviet troops is incomprehensible to us. We observed
the movement of Soviet troops all night, with the help of various sources,
and we informed the President of the Council of Ministers [Premier] of
the events of the night. We spoke by telephone with the Minister of State,
Zoltan Tildy, and with the Deputy Minister of Defense, and we earnestly
requested them to take up the matter with the Soviet commanders most energetically.
. . . At our request the Council of Ministers was called together, and
we received the following answer this morning: 'I can reassure you of the
building up of an independent, free and democratic Hungary. ...
RADIO FREE GYOR
1735 States that it has been scientifically established that the jamming
of the station is being done by a station "in a foreign country."
The radio again protests this air piracy. . .
RADIO FREE KOSSUTH
2100 "News: The President of the Council of Ministers has declared
that the government of the Hungarian People's Republic [55/56]
will immediately take up with the government of the Soviet
Union the question of the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Hungary. . .
. The Hungarian government has requested the Soviet government to appoint
a delegation to start talks immediately, and has also asked that the time
and place of the above-mentioned talks be fixed."
"Many requests have been submitted to Radio Free Kossuth asking for
the discontinuation of jamming of Hungarian broadcasts from abroad. Radio
Free Kossuth's viewpoint is that the struggle of words and ideas should
not be interfered with over the air . . . the operation of jamming stations
in Hungary has already been stopped. Therefore, the jamming which still
interferes with broadcasts does not come from this country. The best illustration
of this is that . . . the broadcasts of Radio Free Petofi are also jammed."
Communique from the Revolutionary Students' Committee: "All armed
students must return to their posts as soon as possible."
"Leaflets distributed by the Revolutionary University Students' Committee
carried the slogan: 'Our confidence is in Imre Nagy!' The leaflet announces,
'On Tuesday, October 23, this was also the slogan,' and then it continues:
"'For about two or three days this confidence was shaken, but now
it is stronger than ever. It has become evident that Imre Nagy was a prisoner
of the security police for two days, and that he made his first radio announcement
with a machine gun at his back. His recent declaration revealed that the
introduction of martial law and the interference of Soviet troops were
not ordered by him, and that the Rakosi-Gero scoundrels charged him with
this in order to cause his downfall. We therefore believe in Imre Nagy,
and we warn him to safeguard carefully the trust of the people! He must
separate himself from the traitors. He must clean the filth of the past
from the government, he must remove those who are rightly despised and
hated by the people. He must take the necessary steps to accomplish the
withdrawal of Soviet troops from Hungary, and must give instructions which
will prevent the infiltration of the security police into the new police
forces. Imre Nagy's adherence to his duties has already been proved by
several proper measures, and we impatiently await further measures of this
kind. Our trust will increase in proportion to Imre Nagy's compliance with
the people's justified demands.'"
Message relayed from Gyor requesting Budapest hospitals not to send cars
to the Austrian frontier, because Austrian authorities will not let them
pass. News that the Austrians are delivering aid consignments by rail or
in their own cars. . . . [56/59]
[10]Bela Kovacs, former
Secretary-General of the Independent Smallholders' Party, was arrested
in 1947 and released from prison only recently.
Ferenc Erdei, originally a member of the National Peasant Party, has held
ministerial positions in successive Communist governments for the past
eleven years.
Geza Losonczy, a "national" Communist appointed Deputy Minister
in 1947, was arrested in 1951 and recently freed and appointed editor of
Magyar Nemzet.
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Richard Lettis: The Hungarian Revolt |