Krónika, 1956 (13. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1956-11-15 / 11. szám
2 “K R Ó N I K A” 1956 november. Russians could veto? Not even that! Why won’t you give us guns, even one pistol! In the words of Cardinal Mindszenty, “Hungary has so far received only bad treatment from the world, especially from the big powers. The thing which no one in the world — not even the big powers — dared to do was done by small, forlorn Hungary . . . We ask the West — and especially the big powers — to support us politically and also to aid us materially in this grave situafion.” For nearly a decade, Western diplomats — and especially State Department officials — vied with each other in promises to support the liberation of Eastern Europe. Tens of millions of dollars were consumed in radio broadcasts, in propaganda-laden balloons and in other escapades to assure the Eastern European peoples that “they are not alone,” that any popular effort against their Russian overlords would be met with unstinting aid from the West. And now that the longsilent but gathering forces of popular resistance have finally exploded in a sweeping revolution for national freedom, what have the Western powers to offer? The Hungarian rise against the apparently overwhelming power of the Russians and their Quislings: The Western capitals issue polite applause. To the amazement of the entire world, the uprising lasts into a second day, spreads, enters a third: The Western capitals express admiration. The Hungarian Army joins the revolution, the government eggs on Russian troops to murder its own people: The Western powers express indignation. The Nagy government begins to sink in the revolutionary sea and offers concession after concession to the rebels: The Western capitals suggest that a quieter, more modest, Gomulka-type development might have been better. Thousands die with guns in hand: The Western powers convene the United Nations Security Council — and adjourn without so much az a resolution of censure. The Stalinist power melts in the white heat of revolution, cities fall to the rebels, the Russians leave Budapest, the revolt appears victorious without a single bullet from outside: This miserable inaction does not cease even now, when Russia pours in reinforcements, rings Budapest with its tanks, occupies airfields, shuts the Austrian border and prepares to cow the revolution or crush in entirely. The Western powers react by reconvening the Security Council to consider the appoinment of an investigating committe. Each successful step that the Russians are able to take toward crushing the Hungarian revolution buttresses their power in the rest of Eastern Europe. But if the Hungarian revolt lasts a few more days, a week, perhaps a month, Rumania, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, all rising rapidly to the kindling point, may be in flames. The hybrid regime of Gomulka, the Polish Nagy, can be overthrown if the Poles take heart from the Hungarian example. However, if the Russians are allowed to subjugate Hungary, the revolutionary movements in all these countries will be killed in embryo. The Russians will be able to terrorize Rumania and Czechoslovakia in the old Stalinist manner. East Germany, where more than 300,000 Russian troops are camped, will be forced to submit. And Krushchev will be free to deal with resurgent Polish nationalism unencumbered by other military considerations. The Russian Army will once more stand squarely across the road of East European liberation. Future gains for the people of these oppressed lands will have to be purchased with suffering more horrible than that in Hungary. If the governments of the West leave Hungary to its fate, they will share the responsibility for these monstrous consequences. The irresistible surge of national feeling in Hungary has forced even the Nagy regime, left with no foundation, to give voice to popular sentiment. Nagy has denounced the Warsaw pact, demanded the evacuation of Russian troops and called for assistance from the West. The Russians no longer have even the fig leaf of a government “invitation” or a military treaty to cover the naked brutality of their intervention. The road is clear for assistance to the besieged but audacious Hungarian people. History hangs in the balance during the few days ahead. We must not leave the Hungarians to face the crisis alone. Worldwide economic sanctions must be imposed against Russia. Above all, we must supply the Hungarian people with the arms for which they have begged, the arms which alone can enable them to defend their own liberty and that of all mankind. Guns, tanks, artillery should be poured across every available border and dropped from the skies. If the Western governments refuse this step, if they will not put rifles into the hands of the heroes who offer their bodies to the steel treads of Russian tanks, let them cease to pretend that the armaments they have piled high are for the cause of freedom and justice. These arms in the hands of East European rebels can bring the Russian empire down and end all fear of an early catastrophic war. Now is the time to act. Tomorrow may bring the headline, “Hungarian Rebels Crushed by Red Army.” Telegraph the President, the State Department, members of Congress and demand the immediate shipment of arms to Hungary. Ask the organizations to which you belong to do likewise. There is still time to avert tragedy! November 3, 1956. (Additional copies of this article in leaflet form can be obtained from: CONTEMPORARY ISSUES 545 Fifth Avenue, New York 17, N. Y. Published by Contemporary Issues, a magazine for a democracy of content.) Győzni fogsz, magyar... Lelkemben remény-fáklyák lobognak, az éjtszakák már nem oly feketék. Hallom pergését jövő doboknak, hajrát búgnak az éjben szerteszét. Árnyak lengenek körül setéten, véres homloku tépett katonák. Temetőkből léphettek ki éppen, ahol pihennek századokon át. A siri láncot nem bírják tovább, nem a halottak sötét börtönét. Muszka dúlja unokák otthonát, rájuk eresztve poklok ördögét. Magyar szabadság fényét akarják, í— sárba tiporva a zsarnoki gőg. < Elhagyva felvert álmuk nyugalmát, haza rohannak mind a temetők. Vihart kavart a szabadság szele, kigyult a régi márciusi fény. A magyar éj szent tűzzel van tele s az árnyak arcán ott ragyogok én. Rohan a lelkem a fergeteggel, amerre népem csatája tombol Egyesülök a felkelt sereggel, mely láncot tép, börtönöket rombol. A Duna felett lángot vet az ég. Piros fényét, nagyvilág, láthatod. . . . O mire vársz, meddig habozol még? Hozhat-e nép nagyobb áldozatot? Küzdött-e még szabadságért, hitért nemzet fia ennél vitézebben? A magyaron kívül bárki is még történelmet irhatna-e szebben? Földjén barbárok gyilkos tankjai > véres kerekekkel robognak át. A templomok siró harangjai halált csendítenek, magyar hcdált. Agyuk ellen szavak barrikádja többé nem segítség, nem oltalom. Ellene szól a kihullt vér vádja holt utcákról és a romok alól. Ha elbukik a bátor, a derék, a szabadság is sirba dől vele. O nem lehet, nem engedi az ég. Győzni fogsz magyar, hit a fegyvered! Lelkemben remény-fáklyák lobognak, köröttem enged a gyilkos setét. Hallom pergését jövő doboknak, a győztes harc kemény üzenetét. CSIGHY SÁNDOR. Szabadságharc! Az alvó világnak vörös-nyoszolyáján Pányvát dobott a turáni elszántság! Fellángolt s harcolt az elfojtott magyar ég, Nem élhet igában, már az ősi nép! Riadtatok bátor, elszánt, ifjú szivek, —Hisz élni vágyott szent, magyar hitetek! És kérges kezű munkások is lendültek Bálványt dönteni, mert halál-kisértet! Tankok rohantak tiszta sziveteknek, De szétvágtátok az altató köd-leplet! Hunyadi lelke az újabb seregben! “Fekete sereg”, éjek nehéz vértjén Villant meg szemetek, ott a Duna völgyén . . . Hogy a szabadság csillaga újra fény! Carey, 1956 október 25. P. SZELÉNYI IMRE.
