Special Committee on the Problem of Hungary
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
UNITED NATIONS REPORT OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON THE PROBLEM OF HUNGARY GENERAL ASSEMBLY OFFICIAL RECORDS: ELEVENTH SESSION SUPPLEMENT No. 18 (A/3592) New York. 1957 NOTE Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of capital letters combined with figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United Nations document. TABLE OF CONTENTS Special Committee on the Problem of Hungary Glossary of Hungarian terms Chapter I. Organization and functions of the Committee A. Introduction B. The witnesses C. Conduct of hearings D. Documentary material E. Attempts to observe in Hungary and to meet Imre Nagy F. Arrangement of the report of the Committee G. General observations on the work of the Committee Annex A: Resolution 1132 (XI) of the General Assembly of the United Nations Chapter II. A brief history of the Hungarian uprising A. Developments before 22 October 1956 B. Meetings and demonstrations C. The first shots D. The armed uprising E. Revolutionary and Workers’ Councils F. Political developments G. Mr. Nagy clarifies H. Declaration of neutrality I. Soviet forces intervene again J. Mr. Kádár forms a government K. The abduction of Mr. Nagy L. Soviet military occupation M. Recent developments N. Summary of conclusions Chapter III. The uprising as seen by the USSR and by the Government of János Kádár A. Introduction B. The issues at stake C. Justification of Soviet intervention D. The progress of events 1. Legitimate grievances 2. Alleged preparations for counter-revolution 3. Reaction in the saddle E. Conclusion 2 Part A. Military intervention and its political background Chapter IV. Soviet military intervention (24 October-3 November 1956) A. Introduction B. Movements of Soviet forces and areas of fighting C. Resistance of the Hungarian people to the Soviet attack D. The withdrawal of Soviet troops from Budapest E. The logistic deployment of new Soviet forces F. Conclusions Chapter V. Second Soviet military intervention A. Introduction B. Relations between the insurgents and the Hungarian army C. The fighting in Budapest D. The fighting in the industrial districts of Budapest E. Fighting in the Provinces F. Conclusions Chapter VI. The political circumstances of the first military intervention A. Introduction B. The popularity of Imre Nagy C. Doubts arise about Mr. Nagy’s position D. Delegations’ limited access to Prime Minister Nagy before 29 October E. Mr. Nagy’s denials F. Mr. Nagy’s detention in the Communist Party Headquarters G. Was an invitation actually extended H. Conclusions Chapter VII. The political background of the second Soviet intervention A. Introduction B. The political position of Mr. Kádár prior to 4 November C. Mr. Kádár’s relations with Mr. Nagy. D. The overthrow of Mr. Nagy’s Government E. The establishment of Mr. Kádár’s Government F. Conclusions Chapter VIII. The question of the presence and the utilization of the Soviet armed forces in Hungary in the light of Hungary’s international commitments A. Introduction B. Post-war international instruments governing Hungary’s international status C. Applicability of these international instruments to the Soviet military interventions D. The demand for withdrawal of Soviet armed forces E. Question of the withdrawal of Soviet armed forces after 4 November 1956 F. Final observations 3 Annex A: Agreement between the Government of the Hungarian People’s Republic and the Government of the USSR on the Legal Status of Soviet Forces temporarily stationed on the Territory of the Hungarian People’s Republic, concluded in Budapest, 27 May 1957 Part B. Effects of the use or threat of use of force on the political independence of Hungary Chapter IX. Background and aims of the uprising A. Introduction B. The background of the uprising C. The declared aims of the uprising 1. The nature of the uprising 2. The resolutions and manifestos of 19-23 October 1956 3. Analysis of the demands stated at the outset of the uprising (a) Political demands (b) Economic demands (c) Cultural demands D. Attitude of the Hungarian People to the State Security Police (ÁVH) Annexes A. Appeal adopted by a meeting of Budapest Technological Students at the András Hess Students’ Hostel (the Central Students’ Hostel of the Building Industry Technological University of Budapest) held on 19 October 1956 B. Appeal issued by DISZ members of the Medical Faculty of the University of Budapest, 22 October 1956 C. Resolution addressed to the participants of the DISZ Mass Meeting on 22 October 1956 D. First draft of the demands of the students of the Building Industry Technological University of Budapest, 22 October 1956 E. The Ten Points of the Petőfi Club, 22 October 1956 F. The aims of the League of Working Youth (DISZ), the Youth Group of the Hungarian Workers (Communist) Party, 23 October 1956 G. Appeal of the Revolutionary Committee of the Hungarian Intellectuals, 28 October 1956 Chapter X. Student demonstrations and the origins of armed conflict in Budapest A. Introduction B. The student meetings on 22 October C. How the demonstrations were initiated and organized D. Demonstrations at the Petőfi and Bem statues E. Demonstration at the Parliament F. Removal of Stalin’s statue G. The first shots H. Further developments I. Parliament Building on 25 October 4 Chapter XI. Revolutionary and workers’ councils I. Introduction II. Revolutionary Councils A. Territorial Councils: 1. The provinces 2. The Transdanubian National Council 3. Budapest B. Functional and Representative Councils: 1. Students and youth 2. Armed forces 3. The Revolutionary ‘Committee of Hungarian Intellectuals C. Establishment of Revolutionary Committees within Government departments D. Efforts for the co-ordination of Revolutionary Councils and Committees E. Contacts of Revolutionary Councils within the Government III. Workers’ Councils in factories A. The establishment and function of Workers’ Councils B. Authorization and encouragement of Workers’ Councils by trade unions, the Part and the Government C. Conclusions Chapter XII. The reassertion of political rights (26 October-3 November) A. Introduction B. The transitional period: The National Government of 27 October (26-29 October). C. Abolition of the one-party system and establishment of the Inner Cabinet of 30 October D. The rebirth of political parties E. The streamlined Coalition Government of 3 November Chapter XIII. Soviet intervention under the present regime A. Introduction B. Soviet administration of Hungary C. Soviet repressive measures D. Relationship of Workers’ Councils and Soviet Authorities E. Attitude towards the Government of Hungary F. The abduction of Premier Imre Nagy G. Conclusions 5 Chapter XIV. Political rights after the revolution I. Workers’ Councils: A. Relationship of the Workers’ Councils and the Government B. The Role of the Communist Party in the Workers’ Councils C. Workers’ Councils and trade unions II. Post-revolutionary status of political organizations: A. Negotiations with political parties B. The fate of other organizations and the Press 1. Revolutionary Councils 2. The Press 3. Youth organizations III. Conclusions Part C. Specific acts in violation of other rights of the Hungarian people Chapter XV. Deportations A. Introduction B. Investigation by the Committee C. Seizure of deportees D. Experience of deportees in the USSR E. Admission of deportations by Soviet Authorities Chapter XVI. Other violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms A. Preliminary remarks B. Hostilities C. The repression D. The spectre of the ÁVH E. Human rights Chapter XVII. Conclusions Annex List of material relating to the problem of Hungary Maps: Map of Budapest Map of Hungary 6 SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON THE PROBLEM OF HUNGARY DENMARK: Mr. Alsing Andersen, Member of Parliament (Chairman of the Committee). AUSTRALIA: H.E. Mr. K. C. O. Shann, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Philippines (Rapporteur of the Committee). CEYLON: H.E. Mr. R. S. S. Gunewardene, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative to the United Nations. TUNISIA: H.E. M. Mongi Slim, Minister of State, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipoten- tiary, Permanent Representative to the United Nations. URUGUAY: H.E. Professor Enrique Rodriguez Fabregat, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative to the United Nations. 7 GLOSSARY OF HUNGARIAN TERMS A. Abbreviations ÁVH Államvédelmi Hatóság; also referred to as ÁVO - Államvédelmi Osztály. State Security Authority; also referred to as State Security Division. DISZ Dolgozó Ifjúsági Szövetség League of Working Youth: youth branch of the Hungarian Workers’ (Communist) Party. HNF Hazafias Népfront People’s Patriotic Front, abbreviated as PPF (1) IBUSZ Idegenforgalmi, Beszerzési, Utazási és Szállítmányozási Iroda. State Travel Office. KISZ Kommunista Ifjúsági Szövetség League of Communist Youth (new Communist youth organization set up in March 1957.) MÁVAG Magyar Államvasutak Gépgyára. Hungarian State Railways Machine Factory MDP Magyar Dolgozók Pártja Hungarian Workers’ Party (title of the Communist Party before 1 November 1956.) MEFESZ Magyar Egyetemi és Főiskolai Hallgatók Egyesületeinek Szövetsége College Student Associations MSZDP Magyar Szocialista Dolgozók Pártja Hungarian Socialist Workers’ Party (title of the Communist Party after 1 November 1956.) MTI Magyar Távirati Iroda Hungarian Telegraph Agency NEKOSZ Népi Kollégiumok Országos Szövetsége National Association of People’s Colleges B. Press (*) Irodalmi Újság Literary Gazette Weekly paper of the Hungarian Writers’ Union