Levéltári Közlemények, 43. (1972)

Levéltári Közlemények, 43. (1972) 2. - FORRÁSKÖZLÉS - Kanyar József: Brit diplomáciai iratok a magyarországi földreformok történetéhez, 1920–1945 / 403–417. o.

Brit diplomáciai iratok a magyarországi földreformok történetéhez 1920—1945 413 5. Debrecen, 1945. március 25. A. Gascoigne-nak, a Magyarországi Brit Politikai Misszió vezetőjének jelentése Gyöngyösi János külügyminiszterrel folytatott beszélgetéséről My telegrams Nos. 32, 33 and. 34. Bill for land reform, as approved by Cabinet March 15th has been brought into force as an executive decree of Provisional Government under date of March 18th (date of its publication). 2. I asked Minister for Foreign Affairs to-day why the Hungarian Government had thought fit, on its own initiative, to implement land reform and I pointed out that when I spoke to him and to the Prime Minister on March 20th (my telegram No 33) they had both referred to measure as being a "bill" which would be laid before National Assembly "almost at once". 3. Doctor Gyöngyösi who seemed somewhat embarrassed replied as follows: Hungarian Government had been obliged a) by Political parties, b) by pressure of public opinion, c) necessity for expediting Spring sowing to put measure into effect. Following he said was present situation on the land : 1. Large land-owners were all absent from the country and no tilling was being carried out on big estates. 2. Peasants were beginning to divide up large estates amongst themselves whitout official authority. This was prejudicial to good order and such a situation would place the Government in danger. 3. Peasants would not till the land as long as they were not assured that it would belong to them. Spring sowing was therefore being prejudiced. 4. Doctor Gyöngyöst added in reply to my suggestion concerning possible unconstitutional nature of decree, that National Assembly had requested the Government last December to "bring about" reform. National Assembly (before which, decree would be laid "later on") would then be in a position to make such modifications as might be reçquired. But political parties had assisted to Government to draft the bill and he felt confident that Secretary General would raise no objection to Government action. Even two or three weeks delay in implementation of measure would have spelt disaster. 5. I then asked him whether he thought redistribution of land would be arranged for speedily. Doctor Gyöngyösi replied that local committees were alrady at work dividing up the land. Repartition of land had already been made on certain of the big estates. Peasants were now assured that they would gain possession of land, and being convinced of this would get ot work to till it. 6. Questioned concerning meeting of National Assembli, Doctor Gyöngyösy stated that this could not now be held in Budapest on April 5th owing to war conditions, but that there would not be a "serious" adjournement. 7. I asked Doctor Gyöngyösi some statistics regarding area of land which would be affected by land reform, and he quoted 5 million hold. PRO FO R 5675/26/21. 6. Debrecen, 1945. március 26. Részletek A. Gascoigne-nek, a Magyarországi Brit Politikai Misszió vezetőjének a földosztást elrendelő törvényről és várható jelentőségéről szóló jelentéséből Mr. Gascoigne to Mr. Eden. — (Received 16-th April.) (No 23) British Political Mission in Hungary, Debrecen, 26-th March, 1945. Sir, I have the honour to refer to my telegrams Nos. 32, 33, 34 and 40 of the 18-th, 20-th and 24-th March respectively, relative to the introduction into this country of a drastic type of land