Szittyakürt, 1978 (17. évfolyam, 1-9. szám)

1978-09-01 / 9. szám

FEBRUARY 1978 TIGHTS* Page 3 HA VE WE LEARNED SINCE 1848? Since the Spring of 1977, the Carter Administration has busily in­vestigated the possibilities of return­ing the Holy Crown of Hungary to Budapest after 32 years of safekeep­ing in Fort Knox. By the Fall dozens of “advisers” and “respectful Hun­garian minority representatives” were consulted, along with officials from Budapest, to work out the best ways of instrumenting the Hun­garian Royal Jewels’ return to Hun­gary preferably as a Christmas gift to the Kádár Regime. However, news about the secret preparations leaked out (perhaps one of the trusted inner circle friends told his wife about it . . .) and President Carter was forced to quickly reveal his plans to a few U.S. Congressmen who were to break the news offici­ally to the media. One such persons was Ohio’s Mary Rose Oakar who was honoured by the Magyar Társaság in Cleveland, Ohio and was given the Árpád, Gold Medal on November 26 at the Magyar Találkozó. This is what the January 9, 1978 issue of Time Magazine had to say about her and the Hungarian treasure . . . DIPLOMACY Return of an Ancient Symbol A legendary Hungarian treasure stirs passions in the U.S. it's a kick in the teeth to the Hungarian people," charged Ohio Democratic Congresswoman Mary Rose Oakar. “It's a great blunder committed by President Carter," protested Polish-Hungarian World Federation President Karol Ripa. These—and worse—outcries, along with demonstrations at the White House gates, were raised again last week by Hungar­­ian-Americans at Carter's decision to re­turn the Crown of St. Stephen to Buda­pest. The legendary symbol of Hungarian nationhood, the priceless gold crown is fit­ted with rubies, and displays exquisitely detailed enamel portraits... Possession of the crown has been a nagging issue for more than three decades... Not all Hungarian-Americans oppose Carter's decision. “The crown can do more good on public display in Hungary, where it is a symbol of historical and re­ligious significance,” argues Zoltán Gom­bos, editor of a chain of Hungarian news­papers* based in Cleveland. There has been no accurate opinion poll among the diverse community of America's 3 mil­lion Hungarians. But so far, the loudest re­sponse has been protest. “The crown was given over to the Americans for trust and safeguarding until Hungary is really free again," says Leslie E. Acsay, president of Hungarian House in New York. “But Hungary is in the same position it was in 30 years ago—the Russians are still The only thing different that happened was that the Holy Crown was given to the Russian backed Budapest Regime not for Christmas but for the New Year. Just as well, since Christmas, the rememberance of the birth of Christ is not an offici­al holy day in Hungary today be­cause of convinction but only as a remnant of a nagging tradition. So the token return of the Holy Crown to Hungary by the U.S. government by Jan. 6, the first weekend in 1978, was even more politically symbolic: Let it be the beginning of a New Year of a New US-Hungarian Re­lationship! This may just prove to be a much needed impetus for the Kádár Era that has begun its third decade in 1977. In a mailgram that the Revolu­tionary Council of the Hungarian Freedomfighter Movement sent to President Carter on November 7, we urged the president not to use the Holy Crown of Hungary . . be­come an object of political con­venience ...” (Szittyakürt, Dec. 1977) but James Carter was advised otherwise. It is really a coincidence that he happened to break the news about the Crown’s return exactly on the 4th of November? He probably never even heard of November 4, 19561 He probably does not care to remember that day when the “glorious and friendly” Soviet troops resumed their death march against Budapest and the Hungarian people. Instead this is what his administration had to say as the following letter indicates . . . DEPARTMENT OF STATE Washington. D C. 20520 December 21, 1977 Professor Andor Jobb De Papos, President Hungarian Freedomfighter Movement 41 Wilson Avnue Clarion, Pennsylvania 16214 Dear Professor Papos: PUBILJ© IMF® P MÄTD® IN BUREAU Of PUBLIC AFFAIRS STATEMENT BY MATTHEW NIMETZ COUNSELOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON EUROPE AND THE MIDDLE EAST INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 9, 1977 It is a great pleasure for me to testify this morning before this Subcommittee about a most important milestone in our relationship with the people of Hungary. As you know, President Carter has decided that, in light of sub­stantial improvement in U.S.-Hungarian relations, we will return to the Hungarian people the Crown of St. Stephen which has been in our custody since the close of World War II. There has never been any doubt that the Crown of St. Stephen belongs to the Hungarian people. This has been our stated policy since we received the Crown in 1945. We have recognized always that our role was merely one of safekeeping this unique historic relic and we have fulfilled our responsibility with propriety and dignity. The time has come to return the Crown to Hungary where it has served as a symbol of Hungarian nationhoo'd for nearly 1,000 years. We believe the decision to return the Crown of St. Stephen to the Hungarian people at the present time is both the right action to take and an action that is in our national interest. The President made his decision in light of the his­tory of the Crown and its unique place in the Hungarian na­tional existence. Tradition holds that Pope Sylvester II gave the Crown to Stephen, Hungary's first Christian king, in the year 1000. It came to symbolize the essence of the Hungarian people and as such played a central role in the course of Hungarian history. At the end of World War II, the custodial guard gave over the treasure without condi­tion to elements of the U.S. Army. I am submitting to the Subcommittee a narrative of this event based on the Ar­chives of the Executive Branch. Throughout the post-war period, the U.S. Government at many times considered the possibility of the return of the Crown. However, a series of historical events, as well as difficulties in U.S.-Hungarian relations, led to postponement of a positive decision until our most recent review which was undertaken from late spring through early fall. The return of the Crown to the people of Hungary is correct and needs no further justification. A historical treasure that played a major role in a nation's history for nearly 1,000 years should be in that country for its people, and for people everywhere, to view and cherish - rather than in a United States Government vault. Aside from the essential rightness of the decision to return the Crown, we believe this decision will advance U.S.-Hungarian relations. The return of the symbol of Hungary's nationhood will respond to the national aspira­tions of the Hungarian people and will encourage under­standing and better relations between our peoples and our two governments. It will foster the spirit of the Hel­sinki Final Act to which we as a people, and, we believe, the Hungarian people, are dedicated. Relations between the United States and Hungary have improved significantly in recent years: On behalf of President Carter, I want to thank you for your comments concerning the Crown of St. Stephen of Hungary. We especially appreciated receiving your views given your particular interest in this important issue. The President strongly believes that the formation of our foreign policy must involve the American people; con­sequently, the views expressed to us this year by more than one hundred representatives of Hungarian-American organiza­tions, as well as by concerned Members of Congress and oth­er interested individuals, were fully taken into account in reaching his decision concerning the Crown of St. Stephen. Matthew Nimetz, Counselor of the Department of State, testified before the Subcommittee on Europe and the Middle East of the House International Relations Committee on November 9 on U.S.-Hungarian relations and the President's decision to return the Crown to the Hungarian people. In his remarks, he outlined the history of our custodianship of the Crown, the factors that contributed to the Presi­dent's decision, and the manner in which the Crown will be returned. I am enclosing the text of Mr. Nimetz' statement to provide a comprehensive explanation of this significant dec is ion. for Public Affairs and Enclosure. Department Spokesman — Hungary has been exemplary within the Warsaw Pact in its implementation of the provisions of the Helsinki Final Act. — Our two nations have signed a Consular Convention that affords protection to U.S. citizens in Hungary.-- We have settled the outstanding nationalization claims of U.S. citizens and resolved all U.S. Government financial claims, including payment in full of the ar­rearages on a World War I era debt. — We have signed our first intergovernmental agree­ment on exchanges and cooperation in culture, education, science and technology. The decision to return the Crown in no way alters our view that Hungary, as a Communist state, lacks many of the essential elements of a democracy. In considering the return of the Crown, the Adminis­tration was conscious of the specific concerns of Hungarian-American organizations and individuals. Presi­dent Carter, as a candidate, told the Coordinating Commit­tee of Hungarian Organizations in North America in the fall of 1976 that he would take their points of view into consideration because, as he put it, "the involvement of ethnic and religious groups in our political system should be viewed as a national strength." During the past year, State Department officers have met or spoken with nearly one hundred representatives of Hungarian-American organi­zations. The views of these organizations, as well as those of concerned Members of Congress and other inter­ested individuals, were fully taken into consideration in making this decision.

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