TEE SITUATION IN HUNGARY (Asovember)
fighting ended lomod Soviet troops withdrew froa the city onod 31 Tho Sovlot Union on that date had virtually capitulated to tbe demands of the Hungarians ratber than use force to crush them. The provisionalof Premier Imre Racy,to many of the principal rebel demands, bam promised free elections, agreed toev army from Insurgent units, and baa asked for Hungary'sfrom the Warsaw pact.
kUlltary Situation
There are conflictingconcerning the withdrawal of certain Soviet troops from tbe countryhole. Soviet troops did,
several days of threats, counter-threats and promises by Moscow, the Hungarian government and thotheir withdrawal from tbe beleaguered Hungarian capital on 31 These troops are reportedly camped on tbo Budapest outskirts; there are no firm lodlcatloom that any Soviet forces baveeturned to thoir garrisons. Hungarian army, police, youth and worker brigades have taken over tbe task of maintaining order within tbe capital. Various Soviet units remained deployed la tbe provinces but these forces are notIn local affairs.
Major elements of at least four Soviet divisions totaling0
men vera within the border* ol Hungary as ofctober. Th* teo mechanized dlvlalooastationed lo Bungary vere augmented by major element*ivision at Tlmlsoara, Rumania, vhlcb arrived In the vicinity of Budapest on 24 Early oactober, aa unidentified element normally stationed In tbe Carpathian MilitarySSR, vas reported near Miskolc inHungary.
peech tbe afternoon ofctober, Xagy repeated hla earlier statement that he vas negotiating vlth tbe USSR concerning the question of Soviet troop withdrawal froa tbe Moscow's announceaent oactober tbat It la -ready to enter Into relevant segotlatlonsa tbe question of Soviet troops In Hungary" suggests
tbat agroemeot may be reached concerning this question.
The Soviet Unionrealized tbat itlear choice io Hungary:ease-flre--allo*lng Nagy to try to salvage whatever Comau-nlsa beull-scsle war against tbe entire Hungarian natloo.
Hungarian Army
The formation of aMilitary Couaoll of the Hungarian Army vas announced onctober. This council, consisting of representatives from tbe army, air force, police and Insurgent groupa. has been recognized by tbe Nagy rsgiae. It has announced approval of demand* aad* oa th* government by workers' councils anda number of high allltary
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including General Toth, tbe armed forces chief of staff. Colonel Psl malater, hero of the Klllnn barracks stand against tbe Soviet troops, was cased first deputy sinister of defense.
Subsequently it esstbat the council would be responsible for maintaining order throughout the countryew popularly elected governaont takes office. The councll--or organs novtoprobably gained wide popular support byonctober to sttsck Soviet units if they did oot withdraw froa Budapest "withinnd froa the satire country byecember.
Nagy Reglse's Concessions
Tbe key concession from tbe Nagy regime came 1st* la the evening ofctober when it snnounced free sod secret elections, without, however,ate. Earlier ln the day Kagy had stated that be specifically recognized ihe regional governments and askedssist la maintaining order, thus implying tbat tbey should remain armed, la the same epeech he announced tnat tbesystem in Hungary hss been abolishedn government would be formed consisting of representative* from tbe Communist Party and from the other parties existingresumably including the Smallholders (B7 percent of popular vote, tho Socialnd the National Peasantercent).
Nagy announced that tbe presldLum of this new coalition
cabinet will Include national Communists Nagy, Kadar (party firstnd Lomoaczy; Smallholders leaders Bela Kovacs and Tlldy; Peasant Party representstlve Erdel (afrom previous Communistod one or more persoDB, as yet unnamed, from tbe Social Democratic Party. .
The Nagy regime bas hailed the events of the past week asational revolution" and classified tbe insurgent workeai sod voutbs aspokesman proclaimed that the du'" of the Budapest uprising vouldational holiday. Szabad Sep, the Communist party organ, onctober condemned aa an Insult to the Hungarian people Pravda's branding of ths uprising as aa "unpopular adventure.'1
Onctober Nagypeech ln Kossuth Square, blaming ouoted party boa* Oero and former premier Hegedus for calling in tbe Soviet troops. Nagy also repeated bis call for Soviet troopa to leave tbe country and announced bisto ask for Hungary'a withdrawal from tbe Warsaw pact, appareotly ln answer to demands by tbe Buegarlan ArmyCommittee.
On the oase day, tho Nagy government restored all civil aod ecclesiastical rights to Cardinal Mludszenty. who had been freedebel army unit the nigbt before.
Hagy appears to be trying to reach an accomnodatloa with sufficient elements of the lasuigents to end theungary. He presumably Is counting on the Communists
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ronlaent el'-mont Id the present coalition endthat the organizationalol hla party will give It an advantage over the newly organized parties, enabling It to thus retain sos* position in the government even after an election.
The Insurgent*
virtually all ol thedeaands on which there was fairly unanimous agreement have now been promised. The question of timing aad aof these proslaea, now-aver--partlcularly regarding tbe Soviet troop withdrawal and freebe tbe governing factor Id the oxteat of co-operatloa with the Nagy regime by the Insurgent groups and the non-Commun1at parties.
Since actualths major unifyingbow ceased aad since the preseot moves of tbe Nagy reglae may b* causing soae confusion among rebel groups, politicalla already under waythe various Insurgent Tbe Communist insurgents apparently retain some confidence Inno-over, that be must impleaeat his deeds before they will actively supporttbe aoa-Comaualst rebels probably continue to regard bla asand tainted.
At least one aajor regionalcentered at Cyor--ls attempting to line up support from insurgents slse-ehvre to withhold recognition from tbe Nagy regime uatll their deaaads are met. This group calls itself the Trans-Uanublan National Council and
waa established on the nightctober. It clalaed the support of tbe national councils of aeveral western counties aad allltary units la tbe area,tbe Hungarian army's 9th Division, and is apparently now supported by tbe insurgents at Miskolc. Tbe council Is negotiating with Nagy for an official proclamation ofneutrality at tbeuarantee tbat general secret elections be held by the end ofnd greater representation of "freedom fighters" in th* Interim governaeat.
Political Parties
Tho National Peasant, the Smallholders and the Social Democratic parties have alltheir national orgaalzatlons, according to Budapest announcementa. Tbe Social Democratic Party, wblcfa reopeaed Its headquarter* oactober, bas taken over publlcatloa of tbo trade union journal, Nepszava. It elected Ananever compro-alsed with theprovisional president, andfrom high posts those meabere who bad favored fusion with the Communists lahe Social Democrats aad* oo in Support of Magy's coalition attempt, aad tbe attitude of tbe other parties reaalns obscure. It is evident that for active co-operatloaealistic coalition, Nagy will not only have toate for free elections but will have to Include genuine alnorlty party leaders in tbe temporary coalition which will steer the governaentew oa* Is foraed ifttrthj^^
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REACTIONS TO POLISH
AND UUKGARIAH DEVELOPMENTS
Eastern Europe
Poland and Yugoslavia nave declared Id favor of tbe demands of tbe Hungariantbe Albanian, Bulgarian, Czech and East German regimes having condemned them as Popular sympathy with the Insurgents, coupledunrest, ls reportod in order of magnitude in East Germany. Czechoslovakia,and Albania. The security forces have been alerted in Rumania, Czechoslovakia, East Germany aad Bulgaria. The Czech aad Eaat German regimes have plana to raise eages la response to worker deaands, and tbe Ruaaalaas have already raised wages.
Tbe Polish centralhas publicly proclaimed tne legitimacy of the demaads of the Hungarian Insurgents, lnslstlag that they are neither anti-Socialist nor Inspired by Western eleaents. It bas also openly urged tbe reaoval of Soviet troops froa Hungary. Public demonstrations in Poland oa behalf of the Hungarian workers caae close to vloleace, aad the Polimh press haathe alsleadlng Czech press treatment of events la Poland.
Officials In Ruaaala have revealedack of agreeaent with the Sovietof tbe situation in Hungary but in tbe press have followed the Soviet lias. Rumaolaa load-ere sho were la Belgrade for talka sitb the Yugoslsvsdeparted convinced of the necessity of loternal reform and they have alreadyee wage and pension scale.
There are reliable reports that Ruaanlaa public oplalon favors the Hungarian workors,
and unconflraed reports of Isolated demonstrations. Ru-aanla has alerted lta Interior guard forces.
InYugoslavia Das sent veteran correspondents in expectation ofint of dlsagreeaent among the top leaders. Publicly, the Czech leaders have beenIn castigating the in- -surgents and nave declared that do such developments will be tolerated in Czechoslovakia. The Czech reglae ls tbe only Satellite to have publicly condemned the new Hungarian coalition governaent.
A propaganda barragethe Hungarian develop-meate. frequent public meetings called for tbe purpose of pledging loyaltyarty, and quick denials of any rumored demonstrations. Indicateconcernestive citizenry, which bas expressed widespread sympathy for tbe Hungarian lasurgeats. Tbw Czech party reportedly plaas to raise wages la deference to worker demands. Czechoslovakia alerted lta security forces during the Polish leadership chaages aad, according to press reports, has sloce alerted aray units aad
noved troops to the Hungarian
border.
Popular unrest, coupled with widespread syapatby tor the Hungarian lasurgeats, is also evident in East Germany. Party officials reporting popularto the ceatral committoe indicate that tbe East Geraaa worker strongly believes that tbe Hungarians are fighting for natloaal independence froa the Soviet Union and are being crusbed by Soviet allltary forcesandful of Communists loyal to
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,tte Is described alsobelieving that the East German regime cannot ignore developments Id Poland aod Hungary and tbat tbe party's leadership lo Berlin lsof putting its bouse in order.
Security forces and army units vere alerted following the events ln Poland and party leaders have made clear that disorders will not be At tbe same time, the party ls considering higher wages and other ameliorations for East Germany's workers.
Albania and Bulgaria bave published only limited and derogatory news of Hungary. There bave been unconfirmed reports of isolatedId Albania. Bulgaria alerted Its Interior guard forces following the revolt.
Bulgarian diplomats abroad have reportedly expressed tbe belief tbat the Hungarian events prove Stalin's policies vere correct.
Yugoslav officials have made both public and privateof sympathy for tbe Hungarian rebels. Tito basla favor of Hungary's-present policies of broad liberalization andand, privately, favors the removal of Soviet troops from the country. ublicd* by tbe Yugoslav League of Communists to the Hungarian people onctober urged them to halt the bloodshed and to support the new government and party. Although thecontained tbe admission that It constituted anId Hungary's internal affairs, Yugoslavia Justified
ts actloo on the grounds tbat be rovolt threatens socialism ln Eastern Europe.
Tito probably fears that if tho fighting continues, the Kagy-Xadar regime will be overthrown by one with Western democratic views, or thatforces will engage ln large-scale repression andthe present government witb one of Stalinist coloring.
Pelplpg
Coaaranlst China haa taken no public poaltlOD--la support of either tbe USSR om tbe one hand, or Poland and Hungary on the otber--ln tbe evolution of new Soviet-aaatern European Although Chinese Coaswuniat leaders probably sympathize with Polish aod Hungarian efforts toarger degree of independence, Pelplag will almost certainly support Soviet efforts to keep Poland and Hungary ln tbe bloc.
Pelplag'a news reports have minimized tbe scale of tbe "excltomoat" ln Poland and tbe "riots" ln Hungary. Chinese dispatches froa Warsaw bave noted both Polish intentions to workew rslatlonsblp with the USSR and Polishabout the importance of the" Peiplng's only editorial on tbe subject thus far denounced Aaerlcaa and British statements as designed to "aggravate" Sovlet-Pollah relations, and emphasized Western speculation that changes ln blocwill not be "dramatic."
Peiplng's broadcasts to tbe Chloeso pooplo bave suggested that the eventual relationship it would llko to soo between the USSR and the European Satellites ls approximately tbe one the Peiplng regime Itself enjoys. These broadcasts) for example, bave noted Polish "concern" over the Kbrushcbev delega-tion's visit during the Pollsb
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central committee's plenary session and Polishfor tbe defense of"nationalt the same time, tbey have reported ln detail alleged popular demandm that the Polish-Soviet "alliamce" be theor "fundamental principle" of Polish policies.
Some private remarks by Chinese Communist leaders Id September may have beenby Polish and Hungarian leaders as encouraging tbolr views on nationalism. Chou En-lal Is reported to have told Polish party leader Ocbab at the Chlneso party congress that he appreciated the Polishfor independence andremlin should not dictate to Poland. The presentparty leader, Jaoos Kadar.in Pelplag at the same time and might haveimilar convorsatloa. moreover, Mao Tse-tuag Is said to have sentelegram ofafter tbe letter's appointment as the Polish party's first secretary.
It is questionable, bow-ever, whether the Chinese wished to encourage either the Poles or the Hungarians to go as far aa thay have gone ln asserting their Independence of Moscow. In this connection, Mao'sto Gomrulka has not been published la Warsaw, whichthat Gomulka did motan unequivocal statement cf support from Mao.
Regardless of developments Id Eastern Europe, the Chinese Conaunlsts tbomeelves willt certainly try to avoid coves which would barm their own relationship with Moscow. Despite Chinese sympathy with tbe Eastern European states, tbe Chinese Communistcan be expected too act on the principle
as Liu Sbao-chl said inmaintenance of the Slno-Sovlet alliance is the Chinese party'a "supremeduty."
Asia and tbe Middle East
The noe-Comsninlst press inAsia and tbe Middle Bastelcomed the uprisingsastern Europeictory for the forces of antlcolonlalmia and Independence, andorerunner to similarln other Satellites. for South Korea andboth of which called for strong action by the free world, official comments has been guarded.
South Korea's President Rbee expressed tbe hope that the free world wouldreat crusade" to overthrow Communist strongholds Id Polaod, Hungsry and other eoslavsd countries, and called on the United States to oppose any Sovlst attempt to suppress the uprisings. Demonstrations, probablyinspired, have been organized to urge an uprising Id North Korea. Seoul radio ls broadcasting similar appeals to tbe North. Chineseforeign minister George Yeb announced that his government "stands ready to give support to any movement or action lo or outside the United Nations In condemnation of the Soviet violation of the principles of national independence and human rights."
The important Tokyo dally, Aaahl, stated that Moscow'sude will afford ao excellent opportunity to Judge the USSR's respect for national sovereignty. The Japanese Socialist Party reportedly plans to rala* tho issue of tbe Soviet Satellites at the Asian Socialist Conference to be held in Bombayoovoabor and to call for
self-determination of all peoples oppressed by colonialism.
1 nationalist paper In Indonesia, which sometime*National Party thinking, interpreted tbe Eaat Kuropeaa developaentsictory for Tito. It hailed bla as aleader who hadew way to socialIsm,every Communist country to develop according to Its respective aethods and national interwst. Ths same paper claimed demonstration in tbe revolts of tbo USSR'sof its allies was food for Indonesian thought. Two aatl-Coaauolst dallies saw the revolts largely aa liberation moveatenta alaed at Soviet
Indian prlmo minister Nehru's public reaction to events In Hungary and Poland haa been guarded. Both be and tbe Indian press, however, seea to Interpret then as steps in the "wholesome process ofandehru, particularly, seems likely to take these events as proof of bis contention that Communist China aad otber Com-aualat nations are not bound irrevocably to tbe USSR.
India's largest opposition group, the Praja Socialist Party, bas exploited tbe opportunity to embarrass the Cceaaualsts by reminding tbe USSR of ltato the "flvo principles" of peace aad coexistence and by deploring its "flagrant intervention" la tbe internal affairs of Bungary and Poland.
The smaller Southeast Asian aatloos have giveo considerable press atteatloa to the eveats, but have Bade little editorial or official comaeat. Thepress bas expressed strong support for tbe rebel forces in Hungary, and forcefully condemned
Sovlat military interveotlon there.
Only the ComaualBt dally in Indonesia bas bo far echoed the Soviet llo* tbat tberesulted froa US-flnanced subversive activity. Japan's Communist Party paper, Akahata, atteapted to refute reports tbat tbere exists "aa Insoluble factional struggle la tbe Communist Party and tbat the partyundamentalagainst Khrushchev."
Tho only anti-American commoat in tbe non-Commualst press was aoted in Tomlurl, Tokyo's third largest dally. It deplored tbe American move to place tbe Hungarian issue before the UN. It asserted that the uprisingomestic lssuo, adding tbat tho United States was atteaptlag to cover up the "disadvantageousbrought on by Bulgaala'a
Tbe Turkish press regards
tbe uprisingsavorable sign tbat Moscow's "foraidable power bas started It recoaaeads allhelp to tboao revolting against Soviet doaloatloo and cautions the west not to "lose tbe initiative to tho USSR In facing up to the Polish Creek comment stresses the theae that tbe USSR isto suppress tho forces worklag for greater freedom la Its empire, and most papers add tbat this situation demonstrates the correctness of the Greek view concerningfor Cyprus.
The attention of Arab officialdom to tbe uprisings has beea diverted byIn Egypt and Algeria. Tbe Egyptian government-financed press has played down thedevelopments, aad press reaction has been gooorally mild
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and hesitant. Antl-Sovlotconsent appear In the Lebanese and Ethiopian preen, with tbe "Voice of Ethiopia" seeing tho events as tbeof the sad of Russian Influence la tbe Satellites and East Germany.
Europe
The revolt in Bungary ls alaost ualvorsally regarded In Western Europe aa symptomaticundamental, and perhaps enduring, change la theof tha Soviet Unionits Eastern European Satellites. Most lnfluentlsl press organs and politicians urge, hovover, that no hasty or drastic actios be taken by the lest that alght work to cancel the advances toward froodom achieved by thorebels.
The British Foreign Office stated onctober that it does not believe Kagy canto rule in Hungary. British Labor Party leader Gait-skell has publicly expressed tbe hope that the otherwill follow the example of Poland and Hungary.
Io West Germany,Adenauer haa expressed tbe belief that the uprisings In' Bungary aad Poland aay ultimately)ore compromisingoo the part of theUnion toward negotiations on Geraan unification. He pledged that do Military actios would be taken against Poland to settle differences over tbe Oder-Nolsso boundary. The West
Gcrnaa Socialist opposition bas called for diplomatic relations with Poland aad Hungary andlest German trade with the Eastern bloc.
The Austrian cabinet baa appealed directly to Moscow to stop Its intervention andfroodom" la Hungary. Antl-Communist demonstrations bave occurred in Roae and other Italian cities to protsst against tbe Soviet forces Id Hungary.
Tbe lest Europeanolat reactloa to tbe violence in Hungary reflects tbestresses oa national party ualty la alaost every couatrj. Tbe Italian Coaaualat newspaper bas abandoned Its support of the Soviet line blaming counterrevolutionaries for tb* violence. Onctober party leader Togliatti cited Hungary's failure to develop Communism on an adequate national base and to make reforas quickly enough.
Ia coatrast, the French Comaualsts haveigidly Stallalst public The American embassy In Parla reports tbat onctober, tbe Freocb Communist press surpassed itself intho Soviet Union and gloating over the "defeat" of the insurgents.
The London Dally Worker continues to equivocate on the issue, both abhorring thefor Soviet allltary and referring to the Hungarlao workers' "Just demands,'
Original document.
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