Fraternity-Testvériség, 1956 (34. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1956-11-01 / 11. szám
FRATERNITY 5 HUNGARY’S REVOLUTION* They alone are worthy of freedom who are willing to fight and die for freedom. The Hungarian people have won the admiration of free men everywhere by their proof that they meet this stern test. Yesterday it became clear that this was not merely a matter of riots in Budapest which could be put down by Russian tanks and bullets. Yesterday it became clear that the Hungarian nation, inspired by the heroic example of the martyrs of Budapest, has risen against the foreign oppressor and his quisling associates. Together with the workers and students of the cities, much of the Hungarian Army itself turned to the national cause and joined the struggle for liberation. The dramatic change in the situation was revealed most clearly by the altered tone of the Budapest radio, still controlled by the quisling regime. Yesterday it promised amnesty, great reforms, exit of the Soviet troops by the end of the year — anything, if only the revolutionists would put down their arms. A sense of horror must sweep over us as we read of the inhuman deeds of the Russian troops. Russian guns have been fired against crowds of defenseless, unarmed civilians. Rebels have been thrown from fourth- story windows. Persons have been hanged in the street from lamp-posts without trial. This is not a police action or civilized combat. This is murder, and it must be denounced by world public opinion as such. At this crtiical moment in the struggle we cannot foretell its outcome. If permitted by a quiescent world public opinion, the Kremlin can send enough troops into Hungary to drown the Hungarian struggle in a sea of blood. It is now the urgent task of the free world to prevent this. There should be no delay in bringing these crimes before the United Nations, before the court of world opinion. The United Nations could not be faced with a clearer case of foreign interference in a country’s internal affairs than exists in this situation. Russian troops have intervened in a Hungarian civil war and it is only because of their force and their murders that the patriotic forces have not triumphed. This is the most urgent task of the moment. In association with other freedom-loving nations, our Government must use all of the weapons of international law in an effort to put an end to this slaughter and to secure the removal of the Kremlin’s forces from Hungary. Saddened as we must be by the outrages and crimes that have been committed, we must also be alert to the political importance of what has happened and is happening in Hungary. The mask of Soviet friendship for the peoples of Eastern Europe, the lies of Communist benevolence, the smiling visage presented by the post-Stalin “new look” — all * An editorial reprinted from The New York Times — Oct. 27, 1956.
