Magyar Egyház, 1975 (54. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1975-04-01 / 4. szám

MAGYAR EGYHÁZ

9

MEMORANDUM

of the

AMERICAN HUNGARIAN FEDERATION on the 30th Anniversary of the Soviet Occupation in Hungary

On April 4, 1975, the Hungarian People’s Republic celebrated the “liberation” of Hungary in 1945 by the Red Army for the thirtieth time.

The American Hungarian community and its national organization, the American Hungarian Federation, state that Hungary has not been liberated and remains subject to Soviet occupation. A reign of terror, murder, rape and plunder characterised the so-called liberation.

Thirty years after the end World War II., the Hungarian people are still subjected to very real constraints in regard to their political, military and economic sovereignty which are papered over only by agreements signed under duress and in the presence of foreign occupation forces.

I. THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES

Soviet occupation forces, by their presence and their implied threat, inhibit free economic planning, trade and production in Hungary. Thus, the Hungarian people cannot attain the economic and living standards to which their managerial skills and ingenuity would entitle them. The recent demand for a three hundred percent rise in Soviet oil prices, the “sharing” of patents, uranium and experts with the U. S. S. R. and other CMEA countries demonstrate the limits of the Hungarian self-determination.

The artificially expanded industries demand higher credit allocations from international and Western sources for productivity expansion while Hungary is forced to grant credits to other CMEA countries.

II. MILITARY CONSEQUENCES

The presence of reequipped and reenforced Soviet forces in Hungary is not based on any perceived threat from NATO. The main reason for their presence is an aggressive one. It foresees the potential use of the Hungarian Plains and Transdanubia as a springboard for an offensive against Yogoslavia in case of internal disorders, particularly after the death of President Tito.

An additional reason is to exert pressure upon the foreign policy orientation of Romania.

III. POLITICAL AND HUMAN RIGHTS CONSEQENCES

The most insidious aspect of the occupation lies in the political and human rights fields. It forces a regime on the Hungarian people which is alien to its thinking and customs. During the one-thousand years of Hungarian history, Hungarians became intimately identified with Western thought, values, ideals and customs and proved their belonging to the West by fighting Eastern invaders for many centuries. Hungarians cannot accept as permanent a system which differs conceptually from the values and standards subscribed to by Hungarians regardless of political persuasion for centuries. Any elections in Hungary prior to the Communist takeover proved the tenacious adherence of the people to these Hungarian values. Yet any free development is drastically limited by the ultima ratio of Soviet divisions stationed in the country. Free elections, genuine freedom of assembly, religion and speech become impossible under such circumstances.

CONCLUSIONS

The American Hungarian Federation and the American Hungarian community in general realize the difficulties confronting the American Government is working for the removal of Soviet troops in Hungary within the present framework of European detente.

We must request, however, that our Government should utilize every available political, economic and diplomatic avenue to remove the presence of forces in Europe, thus allowing a freer political and economic development of European nations, particularly those occupied by the Red Army.

In regard to the Vienna Conference of MBFR we reemphasize our view that the exlusion of Hungary from the zone of reduction would be a consequential and grave mistake and that increased efforts should be made by our negotiators to avoid it. We stress also that under the present circumstances, we cannot consider the Hungarian frontiers as permanent and inviolate, and trust that the final text of the CSCE Declaration will allow changes by peaceful means for the future.

May we finally ask that our European foreign policy by rededicated to the restoration of national self-determination of the small European nations now in the Warsaw Treaty organization. This would be a part of our noble American tradition for which our sons shed their blood in the Second World War, Korea and Viet Nam.