Fraternity-Testvériség, 1978 (56. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)

1978-01-01 / 1. szám

Several members of Congress started a suit on December 16th attempting to block the transfer of the Crown to Hungary in the U. S. District Court in Washington, D. C. They claimed that the United States acquired a property right in the Crown since it had been in U. S. custody. For this reason the President could not dispose of the property without congressional approval. Judge June L. Green ruled that she had doubts about the right of the plaintiffs to file suit. The “return of the regalia” to Hungary is probably a foreign policy decision that cannot be challenged legally. Since the U. S. was never the owner of the Crown, only its guardian, the President has the right to return it to Hungary. Senator Robert Dole filed a separate suit in the District Court in Kansas City requesting an injunction to prevent the return of the Crown to Hungary until the Senate’s approval. Judge Earl E. O’Connor turned down the request in his 11 page opinion. He claimed that on the basis of the testimony of Mr. Feldman, representing the State Department there was no evidence that there was an agreement on the Crown between the U. S. and Hungary. Senator Dole appealed the case to the U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals. A three Judge panel in Denver also denied the request of Senator Dole. Senators Carl T. Curtis and S. I. Haya- kawa and 15 congressmen appealed the case of the Crown to the Supreme Court. Chief-Justice Warren Burger on December 21st denied a hearing without comment.

After the second demonstration several local demonstrations were held in the Hungarian-American communities. On December 11th the Cleveland area churches and societies sponsored a demonstration before the Statue of Cardinal Mindszenty at the Mindszenty Plaza. Among the demonstrators were Mary Rose Oakar, congresswoman & Mrs. Eleanor Schlaffly representing the Mindszenty Foundation. In Philadelphia the meeting was held on December 11th at the Liberty Bell. Mayor Frank L. Rizzo proclaimed the month of December as the month of the Holy Crown. A similar demonstration was held on December 17th in Pittsburgh with all the greater area Pittsburgh churches and Hungarian societies cooperating. Many outstanding Americans joined the long list of protestors and demonstrators. The National Republican Heritage Groups Council unanimously adopted a resolution urging President Carter not to surrender the Holy Crown of St. Stephen to Hungary. Congressman Ed Derwinski led the fight in the House to keep the Hungarian Crown in this country. George Meany, the president of the AFL-CIO wrote that “the Crown of St. Stephen is a symbol of moral and religious importance to free people and those who seek political democracy the world over. It is my hope and wish

that it will be protected until such time as the government of Hungary is freely and properly elected by her people.” Ronald Reagan endorsed the bill submitted by Mary Rose Oakar. He also hoped that the suit in court will be successful. He said: “I believe that the countries behind the Iron Curtain are colonies or captive nations.” John D. Dingell wrote to President Carter that “the Crown of St. Stephen holds both a cultural and historical legacy. It symbolizes Hungary not only as an independent nation, but also as a Christian nation. It is my hope that there will be a reconsideration of your decision.”

After 32 years of custody the 977 year old Crown, the silver orb, the gold-plated scepter, the royal sword and the coronation robe as sacred religious relics were returned to Hungary. Philip M. Kaiser ambassador negotiated the terms. The government officials will receive the Crown in the presence of Cardinal Lekai, the Protestant bishops, the chief rabbi, the academic, cultural and scientific representatives of the state. The government pledged to place the Crown on permanent public display in an appropriate historical location in Budapest for the population of the country, Hungarians living abroad and foreigners alike to see. The army jet plane arrived at Budapest on January 5th 9:30 P.M. Budapest time. The U. S. delegation consisted of: Cyrus R. Vance, Secretary of State and Mrs. Vance, Philip M. Kaiser, American Ambassador to Hungary and Mrs. Kaiser, Senator Adlai E. Stevenson. U. S. Representatives: Lee H. Hamilton, Fortney H. Stark, Theodore S. Weiss. Matthew Nimetz, Department of State, Father Geno Baroni; Elmer Charles, National President of the William Penn Association; Dr. István Deák, Professor at Columbia University; Zoltán Gombos, President of Liberty Publishing Company; Arthur Schneier, Hungarian Rabbi in N. Y.; Monsignor George G. Higgins, Secretary for Research National Conference of Catholic Bishops; Dr. Albert Szent-Gyorgyi Nobel Laureate in Medicine, and several top State Department officials and private citizens. On the long list of delegates not one is a Hungarian-American catholic or protestant clergyman. The delegation was met at the airport by the U. S. Ambassador and the representatives of the Hungarian government. On January 6th the ceremony was held in the Parliament building in accordance with the terms of agreement negotiated by the U. S. ambassador. Secretary of State Cyrus R. Vance turned over the Crown, plus Hungary’s royal sword, orb and scepter and coronation robe to the president of the Hungarian National Assembly. He told Cardinal László Lekai and other religious leaders: “This historical and religious treasure which has played a central role in the history of your nation

8