Fáklyaláng, 1971. január-október (12. évfolyam, 1-10. szám)
1971-10-23 / 10. szám
6 FÁKLYALÁNG Richard M. Nixon .. First, we should have recognized the anti-Communist Nagy government promptly. This would have deprived Khrushchev of the legal argument that the Communist Kadar government had “invited” the Soviet forces to come in. Second, when Khrushchev refused to withdraw his troops from Budapest, we should have broken off diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union. Third, we should have permitted the organization of “volunteers” in free countries to help the freedom fighters. This is the action the Kremlin has taken in corresponding situations. Fourth, when the puppet Kadar government was set up in place of the free government, we should have recognized a government-in-exile. Such a government-in-exile by itself could not have changed the situation. But it would have been a symbolic rallying point not only for Flungarians but for people throughout Eastern Europe, who admired their courage and shared their ideals of freedom. Because of our sympathy for the Hungarian Freedom Fighters, Hungary presents probably the strongest case for the adoption of an American policy designed to gain freedom for the people of Eastern Europe.” (Excerpt from Post Magazine of October 12, 1963, written by Richard M. Nixon.) (^j/oria i~\Jictis How shall we thank the men and maids heroic IF ho faced with valiant hearts and empty hands A saurian monster from the Mesozoic, An armoured dragon from the darkened lands? Out of the schoolroom and the busy smithy, Out of the kitchen and the draper’s shop, They swarmed exultant into Vulcan’s stithy, In Freedom’s name they bade the horror stop. Then for a moment from the beast malignant There came no rip of claw, no gnash of tooth, Attentive lest a wakened world indignant Should rouse from sloth and strike a blow for Truth. The West was silent; and the Brontosaurus, Bellowing down the streets of those dark days, Trampled to blood and death the youthful chorus That sang but now in Liberty’s high praise. Yet who can lock to love the grave’s black portal? Deep in the anguish of the poet’s mind The Magyar spirit shall abide immortal And rise triumphant to redeem mankind. Watson Kirkconnell GLORIA THE BLOOD O by Albert Camus I am not one of those who wish to see the people of Hungary take up arms again in a rising certain to be crushed, under the eyes of the nations of the world, who would spare them neither applause nor pious tears, but who would go back at once to their slippers by the fireside like a football crowd on a Sunday evening after a cup final. There are already too many dead on the field, and we cannot be generous with any but our own blood. The blood of Hungary has re-emerged too precious to Europe and to freedom for us not to be jealous of it to the last drop. But I am not one of those who think that there can be a compromise, even one made with resignation, even provisional, with a regime of terror which has as much right to call itself socialist as the executioners of the Inquisition had to call themselves Christians. And on this anniversary of liberty, I hope with all my heart that the silent resistance of the people of Hungary will endure, will grow stronger, and, reinforced by all the voices which we can raise on their behalf, will induce unanimous international opinion to boycott their oppressors. And if world opinion is too feeble or egoistical to do justice to a martyred people, and if our voices also are too weak, I hope that Hungary's resistance will endure until the counter-revolutionary State collapses everywhere in the East under the weight of its lies and contradictions. Hungary conquered and in chains has done more for freedom and justice than any people for twenty years. But for this lesson to get through and convince those in the West who shut their eyes and ears, it was necessary, and it can be no comfort to us, for the people of Hungary to shed so much blood which is already drying in our memories. In Europe's isolation today, we have only one way of being true to Hungary, and that is never to betray, among ourselves and everywhere, what the Hungarian heroes died for, never to condone, among ourselves and everywhere, even indirectly, those who killed them. It would indeed be difficult for us to be worthy of such sacrifices. But we can try to be so, in uniting Europe at last, in forgetting our quarrels, in correcting our own errors, in increasing our creativeness, and our solidarity. We have faith that there is on the march in the world, parallel with the forces of oppression and death which are darkening our history, a force of conviction and life, an immense movement
