Amerikai Magyar Értesítő, 1985 (21. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1985-03-01 / 3. szám
11+. oldal. Amerikai Magyar Értesítő 1985. március Comments Concerning the Inteview Given by U.S. Ambassador Nicholas Salgo to Mr. Miklós Szántó and Published under the Heading: “American Hungarians Can Do a Lot to Improve Relations” In the December 22, 1984 Issue of Magyar Hirek 1. The fact that the interview took place indicates the insensitivity of Ambassador Salgo to the feelings of most Americans of Hungarian descent concerning the role, the objectives, the methods of operation of the World Federation of Hungarians. This organization was established to ideologically infiltrate, polarize, and therefore politically neutralize the Hungarian communities of the Western democracies and other countries giving home to those who, seeking shelter and freedom, fled Nazi or Communist dictatorships in Hungary. The organization is a front for the Hungarian Socialist Workers’ Party and the government in Hungary. Its leaders are appointed by state and party authorities reestablished in power by the Soviet Red Army in 1956. The World Federation of Hungarians never held an election that can be considered free, democratic. Ambassador Salgo’s unwarranted, unnecessary cooperation with the low echelon, albeit skillful propagandists of the ruling regime demeans his office and raises questions about his judgement as the personal envoy of our President. His praise for an approval of the activities of the World Federation of Hungarians prove his superficial knowledge of the organization and its activities. Furthermore, they are a vivid demonstration of the cunning exploitation by Hungarian officials of the ignorant admirers of their system. They always offer conversation in return for concession. In this case Ambassador Salgo conceded what is not his to give. 2. Ambassador Salgo’s generosity with which he shared his precious time with the officials of the World Federation of Hungarians is more remarkable in the light of the length of the briefing he gave to the representatives of American-Hungarian organizations last November. His priorities and sympathies are clearly evident. 3. Ambassador Salgo’s preference for the propaganda organ of the World Federation of Hungarians known to be the tool of disinformation, to reveal his views on the special cultural, linguistic and political problems of Americans of Hungarian descent over the Hungarian language media of the United States is offensive. Believing that his submission to a conversation with the editor of this publication served any purpose but self aggrandizement is not only a cynical betrayal of the principles of his fellow Americans but also sheer incompetence. 4. Ambassador Salgo compliments the Hungarian leadership for its development of excellent relationships with the churches. It is not clear that he means the world churches or the churches of Americans of Hungarian descent. In either case his praise is misplaced. The regime in Hungary developed a good relationship only with the Hungarian leaders of the world churches who are approved by the state before they can take office. Those who want to practice their faith freely, according to their own conscience are disenfranchised, persecuted, often by the state approved church leaders cooperating with state authorities. Ambassador Salgo knows this. We do not know what motivated him to forget these facts during his interview. As far as the churches of Americans of Hungarian descent are concerned, the statement is sheer nonsense. If the relationship were as implied, the Pope would not have appointed an independent Bishop for Hungarian Catholics living in the West, and the Protestant churches and ministers would not guard their independence with the vigor demonstrated over and over again. 5. The most unbelievable remark uttered by Ambassador Salgo during the interview is his description of the policies of Mr. Kadar's twenty eight year reign. Stating that his regime has an attractive characteristic which is the deliberate and continuous effort to fulfill the natural aspirations of Hungarians, Mr. Salgo conveniently closes his eyes to the terror, characteristic of the years of the 50’s and 60’s. During these years all those who participated in the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, expressing and implementing those aspirations, were silenced by executions, long jail sentences, exile or intimidation. He ignores the sophisticated oppression of the early 70’s and the present reversal of the tactical tolerance of the reawakening national consciousness. He disregards the present efforts of the government in Hungary to supress those who give voice to the current natural aspirations of Hungarians. Ambassador Salgo completes hi§ unrestricted praise by implying that this policy of Mr. Kadar is responsible for the fact that today it is good, it is different to be a Hungarian in America than ever before. Contrary to what Ambassador Salgo said, if today there is a different feeling among Americans toward their fellow citizens of Hungarian descent than before it is because the courageous, principled stand Hungarians took for freedom in 1956 and because Hungarians who came to America before or after 1956 proved themSee Ambassador, 15/1 Reagan majdnem vizitje Magyarországon A New York Times a hétvégén a kővetkező kis hírt közölte eldugva, utolsó oldalán: ,.Saját értesülésünk egy magasrangú kormányzati személy részérái: — A Fehér Ház arra kerté Magyarországot. hogy Reagan elnök tavaszi európai körútja alkalmával kiterjeszthesse látogatását Magyarországra. De ezt a kérést a magyar kormány elutasította.” Hivatalosak, akik ismerősek a háttérrel, azt mondják, hogy a Kelet- Európára kiterjedő Re- agan-körút ötletét, George Shultz külügyminiszter vetette fel először és Amerikának a kelet-európai országokkal való kapcsolatai kibővítését szolgálta volna, és igazolta volna azt, hogy az elnök érdeklődik a nyugat-keleti viszony megjavítása iránt. A Fehér Ház kb. két héttel ezelőtt tapogatózott a magyar kormányról és a kezdetben a magyar hivatalosak kedvezően nyilatkoztak. A múlt hét hétfőjén azonban az amerikai javaslatot elutasították, arra hivatkozva, hogy Kádár János a párt vezetője és más magyar vezetők programjába nem illeszthető bele az amerikai elnök látogatása. ,.Az időzítés miatt kivihetetlen volt! Közölték velünk, hogy ugyanabban az időpontban a Varsói Szerződés államai értekezletet tartanak!” — Mondotta Michael Deaver a fehér házi gárda helyettes vezeFolyt. a 15.old.
