I UN and US REPORTS ON THE HUNGARIAN REVOLUTION OF 1956 (pre-publishing version) 1998 MATTHIAS CORVINUS PUBLISHING Toronto- Buffalo II 1. UNITED NATIONS: REPORT OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON THE PROBLEM OF HUNGARY 2. UNION CALENDAR No. 172 REPORT of the SPECIAL STUDY MISSION TO EUROPE on POLICI TOWARD THE SATELLITE NATIONS by the COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS H.Res. 29 June 4, 1957 III 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 I. 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. II. IV TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Special Committee on the Problem of Hungary VII. Glossary of Hungarian terms VIII. Chapter I. Organization and functions of the Committee A. Introduction 1 B. The witnesses 1 C. Conduct of hearings 2 D. Documentary material 2 E. Attempts to observe in Hungary and to meet Imre Nagy 3 F. Arrangement of the report of the Committee 4 G. General observations on the work of the Committee 4 ,4nnex 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 5 B. Meetings and demonstrations 5 C. The first shots 6 D. The armed uprising 6 E. Revolutionary and Workers’ Councils 7 F. Political developments 7 G. Mr. Nagy clarifies 8 H. Declaration of neutrality 9 I. Soviet forces intervene again 9 J. Mr. Kádár forms a government 9 K. The abduction of Mr. Nagy 10 L. Soviet military occupation 11 M. Recent developments 11 N. Summary of conclusions 12 Chapter III. The uprising as seen by the USSR and by the Government of Janos Kádár A. Introduction 13 B. The issues at stake 13 C. Justification of Soviet intervention 14 D. The progress of events 16 1. Legitimate grievances 16 2. Alleged preparations for counter-revolution 16 3. Reaction in the saddle 18 E. Conclusion 20 Part A. Military intervention and its political background Chapter IV. Soviet military intervention (24 October-3 November 1956) A. Introduction 23 B. Movements of Soviet forces and areas of fighting 23 C. Resistance of the Hungarian people to the Soviet attack. 24 III. V Page D. The withdrawal of Soviet troops from Budapest 25 E. The logistic deployment of new Soviet forces 26 F. Conclusions 27 Chapter V. Second Soviet military intervention A. Introduction 28 B. Relations between the insurgents and the Hungarian army 28 C The fighting in Budapest 29 D. The fighting in the industrial districts of Budapest 30 E. Fighting in the Provinces 31 F. Conclusions 33 Chapter VI. The political circumstances of the first military intervention A. Introduction 34 B. The popularity of Imre Nagy 34 C. Doubts arise about Mr. Nagy's position 34 D. Delegations' limited access to Prime Minister Nagy before 29 October 36 E. Mr. Nagy's denials 37 F. Mr. Nagy's detention in the Communist Party Headquarters 37 G. Was an invitation actually extended? 39 H. Conclusions 39 Chapter VII. The political background of the second Soviet intervention A. Introduction 41 B. The political position of Mr. Kádár prior to 4 November 41 C. Mr. Kádár's relations with Mr. Nagy 44 D. The overthrow of Mr. Nagy's Government 45 E. The establishment of Mr. Kádár's Government 46 F. Conclusions 47 ~ 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 49 B. Post-war international instruments governing Hungary's international status 49 C. Applicability of these international instruments to the Soviet military interventions.52 D. The demand for withdrawal of Soviet armed forces 52 E. Question of the withdrawal of Soviet armed forces after 4 November 1956 57 F. Final observations 59 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 P. 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 65 B. The background of the uprising 65 IV. VI Page C. The declared aims of the uprising 68 1. The nature of the uprising 68 2. The resolutions and manifestos of 19-23 October 1956 68 3. Analysis of the demands stated at the outset of the uprising 70 (a) Political demands 70 (b) Economic demands 71 (c) Cultural demands 72 D. Attitude of the Hungarian People to the State Security Police (AVH)72 Annexes A. Appeal adopted by a meeting of Budapest Technological Students at the Andras 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 Petöfi 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 78 B. The student meetings on 22 October 78 C. How the demonstrations were initiated and organized 79 D. Demonstrations at the Petöfi and Bem statues 80 E. Demonstration at the Parliament 80 F. Removal of Stalin's statue 81 G. The first shots 81 H. Further developments 82 I. Parliament Building on 25 October 82 Chapter XI. Revolutionary and workers' councils I. Introduction 84 II. Revolutionary Councils 84 A. Territorial Councils: 1. The provinces 84 2. The Transdanubian National Council 86 3. Budapest 87 B. Functional and Representative Councils: 1. Students and youth 87 2. Armed forces 88 3. The Revolutionary Committee of Hungarian Intellectuals 89 C. Establishment of Revolutionary Committees within Government departments 89 D. Efforts for the co-ordination of Revolutionary Councils and Committees 90 E. Contacts of Revolutionary Councils within the Government 90 III. Workers' Councils in factories A. The establishment and function of Workers' Councils 91 B. Authorization and encouragement of Workers' Councils by trade unions, the Party and the Government 92 C. Conclusions 94 V. VII Page Chapter XII. The reassertion of political rights (26 October-3 November) A. Introduction 95 B. The transitional period: The National Government of 27 October (26-29 October)95 C. Abolition of the one-party system and establishment of the Inner Cabinet of 30 October 96 D. The rebirth of political parties 97 E. The streamlined Coalition Government of 3 November 99 Chapter XIII. Soviet intervention under the present regime A. Introduction 101 B. Soviet administration of Hungary 101 C. Soviet repressive measures 103 D. Relationship of Workers' Councils and Soviet Authorities 104 E. Attitude towards the Government of Hungary 105 F. The abduction of Premier Imre Nagy 106 G. Conclusions 107 Chapter XIV. Political rights after the revolution I. Workers' Councils: A. Relationship of the Workers' Councils and the Government 108 B. The Role of the Communist Party in the Workers' Councils 113 C. Workers' Councils and trade unions 114 II. Post-revolutionary status of political organizations: A. Negotiations with political parties 115 B. The fate of other organizations and the Press 117 1. Revolutionary Councils 117 2. The press 118 3. Youth organizations 119 Part C. Specific acts in violation of other rights of the Hungarian people Chapter XV. Deportations A. Introduction 123 B. Investigation by the Committee 124 C. Seizure of deportees 124 D. Experience of deportees in the USSR 125 E. Admission of deportations by Soviet Authorities 126 Chapter XVI. Other violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms A. Preliminary remarks 129 B. Hostilities 129 C. The repression 130 D. The spectre of the AVH 133 E. Human rights 135 Chapter XVII. Conclusions 137 Annex List of material relating to the problem of Hungary Maps Map of Budapest Map of Hungary VI. VIII SPECIAL COMMI11TEE ON TIIE 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 Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative to the United Nations. URUGUAY: H.E. Professor Enrique Rodriguez Fabregat, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative to the United Nations. VII. IX GLOSSARY OF HUNGARIAN TERMS A. Abbreviations AVH Államvédelmi Hatóság; also referred to as AVO State Security Authority; also referred to as Államvédelmi Osztály State Security Division DISZ Dolgozo Ifjuság Szövetsége League of Working Youth (youth branch of the Hungarian Workers' (Communist) Youth Party HNF Hazafias Népfront People's Patriotic Front, abbreviated as PPF 1 * IBUSZ Idegenforgalmi, Beszerzési,