Fraternity-Testvériség, 1962 (40. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1962-08-01 / 8. szám

FRATERNITY

9

Paul Nadanyi:

THE REVOLT

THAT ROCKED THE KREMLIN

(Continuation)

This declaration confirmed that the Soviet Government has ordered its military command to withdraw the Soviet units from Budapest and announced that the Soviet Government is prepared to begin negotiations with the Hungarian Government and other parties to the Warsaw Treaty on the question of Soviet troops in Hungarian territory. The declaration also stated that Moscow is ready to enter into discussions with the Governments of other socialist countries with a view to “eliminate any possibility whatever of violations of the principles of national sovereignty, mutual benefit and equality in economic relations.”

But while delegates to the UN General Assembly, then in session in New York, and the world press accepted this Moscow declaration as a definite indication of a change of Soviet policies toward the satellite countries, ominous reports reached the Government of Imre Nagy. According to these reports, new Soviet troops had crossed the border and were on their way toward Budapest. Soviet Ambassador Andropov, however, reassured Prime Minister Nagy that the Soviet Government maintained fully its declaration of October 30 and was ready to negotiate a partial withdrawal of Soviet troops from Hungary. He stated that Soviet troops had been coming in across the border only for the purpose of relieving those troops who had participated in the fighting and in order to protect Russian civilians in Hungary. Ambassador Andropov further suggested that the Hungarian Government should appoint two delegations, one to discuss political questions and the other technical questions in connection with the withdrawal of the Soviet troops.