S/PV.754 Security Council

If there are no objections, 1 shall consider the provisionaI agenda of the meeting adopted, it being understood that the objection raised by the Soviet Union representative at the 746th meeting is noted. The agenda was adopted. Letter dated 27 October 1956 from the representatives of France, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America to the President of the Security Council concerning the situation in Hungary (S/3690) 2. The PRESIDENT (translated from French) : In accordance with the decision taken by the Council at its 746th meeting, I invite the representative of Hungary ta take a seat at the Council table. Mr. Ssabo, representative of Hungary, took a place at the Council table. 3. Mr. LODGE (United States of America) : If ever there was a time when the action of the United Nations could litera1ly be a matter of life and death for a whole nation, this is that time. If ever there was a question which c1early raised a threat to the peace, this is the question. A few minutes ago, we received word of the appeal of the Prime Minister of Hungary for he1p from the whole world while bis capital city is burning. We leamed that Budapest, according to its own radio broadcasts, is at this moment surrounded by a thousand Soviet tanks, whkh are firing phosphorus shells into the city in arder to burn it out. Over Radio Budapest, between news bulletins, can be heard the Hungarian national anthem, which ends with the words: "Here is where you live, and here is where you must die." ~eactionary forces, taking advantage of the tolerance shown by the Nagy cabinet, let themselves go even more. The blood terror against the working class has reached an unprecedented scale. The Nagy government in fact fell apart, making way for anti-people's elements. A state of chaos prevails in Hungary, with economic and cultural Hfe paralysed." 5. A fe,'; hours Rgo in the Security Council, in tbis very chamber, the representative of the Soviet Union finally responded to the questioning of bis colleagues concerning reported negotiations between the Soviet Union and Hungary for the withdrawal of Soviet forces from Hungary. His answer was: "1 have been asked to comment on the report that negotiations are being conducted between Hungarian and Soviet representatives concerning the Soviet troops in Hungary. 1 can confirm that such negotiations are going on." [SjPV.753, para. 132.] In the light oi! what we now know is going on at tbis moment in Hungary, that statement can scarcely he equalled for its totallack of candour and its indifference to human suffering. It should be matched against the fact that it is the Soviets who, all over Asia, have been proclaiming their fealty to the so-called five principles of peaceful coexistence. How far apart can actions and words be? 6. Shortly after midnight 1 requested a Sunday meeting of the Security Couneil to deal with this agony of the Hungarian people. Five minutes later the fact of this request was broadcast by Radio Budapest. That shows how quickly what we say and do here affects the people of Hungary in their struggle. 7. As 1 stated in the General Assemblyl an hour or so aga, we have had ward from our Legation in Budapest that large-scale bombing is taking place on Budapest and that the staff has had ta take refuge in the cellar of the Legation building. 8. 1 have just been handed the following information, which cornes direct from our Legation in Budapest: "Cardinal Mindszenty and his secretary presented themselves ta the offices of the American Legation and have been given refuge at their request." 'l''L ! __ ~_-.a. _~ __..... ~,...••_A ~:__:h__ ~.a .1. UCI'Ç 1::11 d ld\.L UA. YJ.U.Luuuu. ".lSU&U'\"QU",",-_ 1 1 12. As the United States representative so aptly remarked, just when the permanent representative of the Soviet Union was telling us here that negotiations with the Hungarian Government were proceeding, and at the very time when the representative of the Soviet Union in the General Assembly was demanding respect for the principles of the right of peoples to self-determination and non-intervention in the domestic affairs of States, a cruel and treacherous blow was being aimed at the Government of Hungary, in the form of an invasion by the armed forces of the Soviet Union. AIl this is a disgrace to the Soviet Government and a ground for protest by aU free men throughout the world. 13. According to the latest United Press bulletin, Soviet mechanized forces have taken Budapest in a surprise attack and have captured Prime Minister Nagy. Soviet tanks and ttoops have overrun the capital while other armoured units have been capturing other important key cities of Hungary in a surprise offensive intended to restore the authority of the Soviet Union and to overthrow Nagy's Titoist régime and bis government. The Soviet forces met with no resistance in their march on Budapest, but there was some opposition in other cities. The Soviet troops occupied the Hungarian Parliament Building at ~ time when Nagy and bis new democratic cahinet were in session. The news of the occupation of the Parliament Building was the last report received from Budapest in the United Press offices in Vienna. 14. 1 therefore think that we should vote immediately on the draft resolution submitted by the United States. If, as is quite certain-if it were not 50, he would not be the representative of the Soviet Union-Mr. Sobolev vetoes this draft resolution, the General Assembly must be convened in emergency special session to deal with this grave problem tomorrow. At that meeting we shall see whether all those who have in the past few days been loudly proclaiming the principles of the Charter and demanding that they he respected will join with us, as we have joined. with them on other occasions, in voting to condemn the conduct of the Soviet Union. J 15. On behalf of the Cuban people, 1 wish to register an energetic protest against this attack, which 1 can find no words bad enough to describe. This attack is a dis- 17. We have just heard the latest terrible news of what is occurring in the beleaguered city of Budapest. These reports which reach us through the communications channels of Eastern Europe can bear but one interpretation, and 1 myself had direct confirmation, a few hours aga, of the fact that pitched battles were being waged in the city. 18. As everything we have said in this Council has shawn, my de1egation has been extremely un~asy about the situation and we have been pressing for consideration of action on it. Only a few hours aga, in this chamher, 1 showed several times how d1eeply disturbed we were at the suggestion that consideration of the situation could he left over until next Monda~y,5 November. The Government of Hungary has twice :lppealed ta the United Nations. 19. Now we know that a tragedy unparall;,:led in the long history of this heroic country is occurring. A week aga the peaceful demonstrations of the citi7.ens of Budapest were violently repressed by Soviet forces, armoured cars and tanks. At that time it seemed c1ear, and 1 said sa, that what was heing attempted was a repression by force of the rights of the Hungarian people. But of course matters have now gone much further. There can he no doubt from the reports received during this momentous night that a brutal and naked assault on Hungary is at this moment taking place with the abject of cnIshing the Hungarian people. It is not ooly that we should he concerned about an attempt to overthrow a government, ta dominate a sovereign nation and to invade a country; there has been the most brutal slaughter of civilians, men, women and children, dating from the time of the first demonstrations, and the imagination boggIes at the thought of the loss of civilian life that must he occurring at the moment. In these circumstances, is it already too late for this brutal and inhurnan assault ta he arrested and for the great Hungarian people ta be allowed ta lead their own lives in peace and independence?

The situation in Hungary has developed in the most deplorable fashion. The Security Council, only a few hours M:O, after hearing of the more recent cievelopments, decidl.d to adjouM until Monday, and we find it necessary now to resume our discussion without waiting for Monday because 'events have marched ahead of the time-table that the Council had set itself. 21. When we last discussed the matter, our hopes were raised somewhat by the news-which was confinned by the representative of the Soviet Union-that 22. The gallant efforts of the Hungarian people and of their determined Government to take control of their own affairs and even to develop them in peaceful coexistence with the Soviet Union seem to have come very close to a brutal end. Negotiations were in C0urse, according to one of the news bulletins that has reached us. Two Hungarian military delegates who went to negotiate with the Soviets about the Hungarian demand for the withdrawal of Soviet troops, Major-General Istvan Kovacs, Hungarian Chief of Siaff, and Major-General Pal Maleter, hero of the Killian Barracks Siege and Defence Minister, have not returned. They have apparently been taken prisoner by the persons with whom they were supposed to negotiate. 23. There is no need for me to recite the tragic events that have been reported through the news agencies at this time. The position of my delegation and of other delegations around thia table has been made abundantly clear. We have before m: the United States revised draft resolution. We can do nothing less at this moment than to adopt this resolution and to voice the prayer that it may still be possible to bring about a more reasonable attitude on the part of the Soviet authorities towards this country whose main crime see~s to be that it has frontiers adjacent ta the Soviet Union. J

In these tragic times, the Peruvian delegation will not take advantage of the floor to utter words which would delay action, divert our attention and dissipate the deep feelings whid-, are oppressing us all. So 1 shall briefly outline the few considerations which 1 want to put forward in support of the United States draft resolution. 25. This morning we still had a faint hope that the negotiations announced between the Government of Hungary and that of the Soviet Union might achieve sorne result. It is possible that the pressure brought to bear on the Hungarian Government to make it accept condItions which it was bound to decline, has culminated in a plan for the absolute subjection of the Hungarian people and a return to the régime established in 1948. 26. AlI 1 wish to say, quite impartially, to the Soviet Union is that a régime of force may rise, and having reached its zenith, may maintain its dominion for a while, but that the time will come-as history has proved-when this use of force meets with moral resistance gradually developing into material resistance, am! at that point a process of disintegration sets in, an inevi~ble process which cannot he halted. 27. To my mind, the Soviet Union Government is now committing not only a great crime but a great mistake in trying to restore the hegemony established over Hungary in the time of Stalin, at a timc when the world situation has changed, when the United Nations bas achieved a degree of universality in its membership "Calls "pon the Government of the Union of Suviet Socialist Republics to desist forthwith from making war on the Government and people of Hungary, and from any form of interventiorr. in the ;n~ernal affairs of Hungary." 3~. Mr. VAN LANGENHOVE (Belgium) (translaled from French): 1 have no wish to prolong the debate. The ~ituation is now quite clear and, as bas just been said, does not caU for long speeches. 34. Wc are facet! with a (':, ..,,;; of flagrant aggression at thE very time when we were assnred that negotiations

.\t our last meeting, referring to the latest news we had received from Hungary, 1 said: "According to reports which have been confirmed, Soviet troops are occupying airfields, railway junctions and strategic points. Is this an evacuation? Is it the prelude ta an evacuation? Are such measures needed before negotiations cau take place? It is not only our right but our duty to know whether it is not rather a regrouping of Soviet forces in preparation for a sudden move with a view to the establishment of a régime which sui15 the Soviet Union?" [SjPV.753, para. 81.] 1 raised the question whether the crime of Prague was to be repeated at Budapest. Uniortunately my fears seem to have been justified. Indeed, the drama we are witnessing today seems to me even more tragic than that of 1947, since it has been preèeded by a week of fightiug during which thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, have fallen in defence of Hungary's independence. Urgent action is therefore needed. 37. At the same meeting, the Yugoslav representadve proposed the adjouroment of our meeting to give us an opportunity to obtain further information about the various news reports, w:üch were alleged to be contra- <lictory, and about the negotiations which were said to be proceeding. 1deplored that suggestion. 38. A few hours later we heard the appeal of Mr. Nagy, first transmitted over the Hungarian State radio from Budapest and subsequently confirmed by the last teletype, which was still working up to a few hours ~o between Vienna and Budapest. There can he no furtber doubt. 1t is no longer the fate of a régime which is at stake but the independence of a people. 39. We have a draft resolu~on before us. The Chinese representative has proposed an amendment which 1 whole-heartedly support. 1 helieve it is our duty to adopt this draft resolution immediately and to draw the appropriate conclusions from the manner in which the votes are cast. 40. The PRESIDENT (lran.flaletl trom French): l should like to say a few words as representative of IRAN. The Iranian delegation, like other delegations, deplores the tragic news which bas reached us. We are distressed at the sufierings of the Hungarian people, and we admire this people, which does not shrink from any -sacrifice to obtain its independence and its freedom. 1 should like to assure the gallant H ungarian people of the whole-hearted sympathy of the Government and people of Iran.

The Soviet drlegation has no official information on the reports that have just been circulated about the new developments in Hungary. In these circun15tances, the Soviet delegation considers that the more correct course would be for us to postpone consideration of this question until reliable information is available. 43. However, the majority of the Council mcmbers have unfortunately chosen a different course. On the basis of fragmentary, unconfirmed Press and radio reports, certain members of the Council have decided ta force a discussion of the situation in Hungary on the Council. 44. The Soviet delegation considers it necessary ta deal briefly with certain facts relating to the situation in Hungary which have been incorrectly presented in the statements made in the Couneil. 45. The course of events in Hungary has shawn that the Hungarian workers, after achieving great progress on the basis of a popular democratic régime, have recently and justifiably been pres~ing for the elimination of certain shortcomings in the sphere of economic organization, for a further advance in the standard of living of the people and for action to combat bureaucratie perversions in the govemment machinery. This legitimate and progressive movement of the workers was saon joined, however, by extreme reaction:>.!y and counterrevolutionary ele..rnents, which attempted to exploit the dissatisfaction of sorne of the workers, to subvert the foundations of the people's democratic régime in Hungary and to restore the old landowner-capitalist order in that country. • 46. Further developments, particularly in the last fe\\' days, have shown that what we have been witnessing in recent weeks has been an attempt to carry out a counter-revolution in Hungary aimed against the interests of the overwhelming majority of the Hungarian people. Taking advantage of the situation, reactionary elements in Hungary have prevented the Hungarian people from understanding the true significance of events and have created a state of tension and provocation. 47. These counter-revolutionary elements have been able to attract a certain section of the working people, who have been misIed by lying propaganda. There is an abundance of evidence to show that thi5 situation in Hungary has come about partly as a result of the participation of the Western Powers, particularly the United States of America, in subversive activities against the people's régime. 48. In our previous statements on this question at meetings of the Security Council, we have adduced many facts to show how subversion has been prepared and ~ecuted against Htmgary and the other peoples' democracies. 1 have already referred to the well-known "Mutual Security Act" under which the United States Congress makes regular annual appropriations of $100 million for subversive activities against the Soviet Union and the peoples' democracies. In 1956 an additional $25 49. The events in Hungary have shown quite clearly that a counter-revolutbnary underground movement has been organized in that country with help from abroad, a movement weil armed and carefully trained for action against the people's régime. Everything points to the fact that the rebels have operated on the basis of a prearranged plan, and that in their leadership an active part has been taken by men with milîtary experience, officers of the Horthy régime. 50. As a result of this counter-revolutionary coup d'état, a so-called Government of Hungary headed by Imre Nagy came to power temporarily in part of the country. The Nagy Government openly adopted a reactionary and fasdst policy aimed at the complete liquidation of the people's democratic régime in Hungary, at the restoration of the old landowner-capitalist system and the establishment of a fascist dictatorship. 51. A state of terror was created in Hungary. In the last few days the counter-revolutionary gangs have carried out acts of violence and excess in the capital and the provinces. Many public and government buildings have been sacked; scenes of mass violence have taken place; many public men and completely innocent people have been murdered. Counter-revolutionary fascist elements have gone about their work openly and unashamedly, taking advantage of these disorders in an attempt to destroy the people's democratic régime and restore the dictatorship of capitalist cliques. In their unbridled fury, the fascists beat up and murdered Hungarian patriots. Armed groups attacked establishmtnts and institutions in order to avenge themselves on government servants. They barbarously destroyed monuments of culture. In particular, the National Museum of Hungarian Art and Culture was set on fire. On 1 November the statue of Freedom on Gellert Hill was destroyed. The fascist menace in Hungary grew stronger and stronger. 52. These circumstances fully explain the legitimate concern for the fate of the Hungarian workers felt by the peoples of friendly countries, in particular by the peoples of the Soviet Union, Poland, Romania, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia, which have common frontiers with Hungary and are linked with it by close ties of friendship. Let me cite just one fact. The Yugoslav newspape~ Borba recently published an article on the situation in Hungary. It noted that the picture in Hungary was hecoming increasingly sombre. Various anti-socialist ele· ments were gathering strength and raising their heads.: The danger to the Hungarian workers' movement of those reactionary forces could not be underestimated. The author continued: "Concessions to the reactionary clements may only complicate the situation in Hungary still further and jeopardize everything the Hungarian working c1ass has achieved in building a new society. The Htingarian workers are responsible before history for seeing that this does not happen." 1 would add that 9 54. In the light of the foregoing considerations it is quite plain that this question in no way concerns the United Nations or, in particular, the Security Council. Any intervention by the United Nations and the Western Powers in the further course of events in Hungary can only lead to complications, and would in any event he illegal and incompatible with the Charter. The delegation of the Soviet Union feels compelled to warn the Council that the United States, the United Kingdom and France, in placing this question on the Security Coundl's agenda, must bear full responsibility for such intervention. 55. The representatives of the United States and, iln particular, the United Kingdom and France, will not succeed by means of demagogic speeches in concealing the fact that the inclusion of the question of the situation in Hungary in the Security Council's agenda is a proyocative act intended to divert the attention of world public opinion from the aggression committed by the United Kingdom, France and Israel against Egypt. The Governments of the United Kingdom and France, having embarked on the course of aggression, are openly trampling on the United Nations Charter and are disregarding both the decisions taken by the General Assembly on 1 November and the protests of public opinion throughout the world. The latest reports from the Middle East area show that the position there is deteriorating hourly. Yet at a moment when mankind is watching the events in the Middle East with alarm and apprehension, waiting for the United Nations to take urgent measures to put an end to the aggression perpetrated by the United Kingdom and France against Egypt, the Serority Council, the organ which bears primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, is taking up its time with a discussion on the provocative question of the situation J Ibid., 562nd meet:mc. 57. 1 fully appreciate the fine motives which animated the representative of China in offering his amendment and the cogent arguments which he advanced. 1 do not daim that our dnft resolution is perfect-no human document is perfect-but 1 do submit that it is adequate, that it meets the issues, and that to start changing it now would cause dangerous delay. 1 therefore feel constrained to oppose all amendments, much as 1 dislike not to accede to the proposaI of the representative of China, and in aIl sincerity and courtesy 1 ask him not to press his amendment.

For the sake of unanimity, and in order to save time, 1 do not press my amendment. 59. Mr. LODGE (United States of America) : May 1 thank the representative of China for his sympathy and understanding.

The representative of the Soviet Union has tried to make out that the United States, the United Ki1'1gdom and France brought the Hungarian question to the Security Coundl in order to distract attention from the Middle East. That is quite untrue and, if 1 may say so, remarkably cynical when you compare the two situations. There is, of course, no comparison. Even before the full-scale invasion of Hungary, which bas just started, Soviet troops interfered in the internaI affairs of that country to repress its people in their struggle to assert their rlghts, guaranteed to them under the Charter af the United Nations and in the Treaty of Peace between Hungary and the Allied and Associated Powers. The motive of the Soviet Union's action was and is the domination of Hungary. It is a denial of Hungary's right to p?litical independence. It is in direct contradiction to article 8 of the Warsaw Pact. It is a denial to the people of Hungary of the human rights and fundamental freedoms guaranteed to them under the peace treaty. 61. The action of the United Kingdom and France in Egypt is none of these things. It is intended to stop the spread of war in the Middle East-to stop, not to spread -to restore intemational law and arder and to preserve the Suez Canal from destruction. It is a police action, and it has been undertalcen for a temporary purpose only. It does not have as its aim the domination of Egypt by the United Kingdom or France.

As the members of the Council are aware, at the informaI meeting two hours ago 1 favoured an early meeting of the Couneil to consider the most recent developments in Ht,ngary. Even before the previous meeting, 1 made every effort to contact my Government by telephone in order to obtain instructions. My efforts so far have not been successful. The attitude of my Government with regard to the independence and sovereignty of aIl peoples, including the people of Hungary, is weIl known, as is the attitude of my Government regarding non-interference and non-intervention in the internaI affairs of other States. But the members of the Couneil will understand that on a question which is of such grave concern to my Government 1 cannot act in the absence of instructions. 1 will therefore have to refrain from participating in the vote on the United States draft resolution. 64. However, with the permission of the President, 1 shall record my vote subsequently, as soon as 1 receive instructions. 65. The PRESIDENT (translated from French): The Yugoslav representative will no doubt be in a position at the next meeting to say how he would have voted if he had been in a position to do so, and his statement will be included in the record. 66. No other member of the Couneil wishes to speak. If the Hungarian representative wishes to add to the statement he made at the last meeting, 1shall calI on mm.

During the night, since this news reached the United Nations Headquarters, 1 could not make contact with Budapest. Therefore, 1 could not get official information about recent events in the Hungarian People's Republic. Unofficially, however, we are informed that a new Government has been formed under the leadership of Mr. Janos Kadar, President of the Couneil of Ministers.

We shall now vote on the United States draft resolution [Sj3730jRefJ.l]. A flote was taken by show of hands. ln fm,ol'lur: Australia, Belgium, China, Cuba, France, Iran, Peru, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America. . Against: Union of Soviet Sodalist Republics. Present and not voting: Yugoslavia.8 a At the 755th meeting the representative of Yugoslavia stated that he wished his vote to he recorded as an abstention. 12 70. 1 therefore make the following motion to call an emergency special session of the General Assembly in accordance with rule 8 (b) of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly: ((The Security Couneil, "Considering that a grave situation has been created by the use of Soviet military forces to suppress the efforts of the Hungarian people to reassert their rights, ((Taking into account that b.:-cause oi the lack oi unanimity among its permanent members the Security Council has been unaLle to exercise its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, ((Decides to call an emergen<:y special session oi the General Assembly, as provided in General Assembly resolution 377A(V) oi 3 November 1950, in order to make appropriate recommendations concerning the situation in Hungary." 71. Mr. SOBOLEV (Union oi Soviet Socialist Republics) (tf'a',date,i trom Russian) : Wc have :l1ready stated that any examination oi the "situation in Hungary" in the Securit.v û>uncil is totally unjustified and constitutes an act oi intervention in the domestic a1Iairs oi Hungary. The same criticism also applies to the proposai to reier the que"tion to the General Assembly. The only purpose oi the proposai to reier the situation in Hungary to a special session oi the General Assembly can be to exacerbate still further a situation which is already difficult enough. It will not help to restore normal conditions, but is intended to fan still higher the fiames of the recent disorders. n. There is a further purpose behind the proposaI to refer this question to a special session of the General Assembly. The Council is aware that a special session is now examining the question of a cease-fire and of the cessation of the hostilities undertaken against Egypt. The authors of this action, those who are chiefly responsible for the aggression committed against Egypt, are uT"derstandably feeling somewhat uncomfortable. They need a smoke-screen, and that is the purpose of the proposed discussion on the situation in Hungary. 73. It will, 1 beHeve, he understood why 1 shall vote against this proposaI. 74. Mr. BRILEJ (Yugoslavia): My delegation is going to vote in favour of the proposai to call an emergency special session of the General Assembly. Its vote will not, naturally, imply any judgement on the substance of the question. 75. The PRESIDENT (translated trom French): We shall now vote on the United Statles draft resolution.

Last Wednesday [751st meeting] 1 had the honaur to make before this Coundl the dedaration concerning the views 1 hold on the duties of the Secretary-General and my understanding of the stands that he bas to take. It is certainly not necessary, but all the same 1 would like to put on record that the observations 1 made on that occasion obviously apply also to the present situation.

1 wonder if the Secretary-General could inform us what time he plans to set for the proposed meeting of the General Assembly. 78. The SECRETARY-GENERAL: After the end of the meeting of the General Assembly 1 have been workmg on the basis of the resolutions adopted. That has made it possible for me to work out a time-table. 1 think that it should he possible for me to cireulate the report, in compliance with the request of the General Assembly, at 6 o'dock this afternoon, which would make it possible to convene the General Assembly for consideration of the results of my efforts at 80'dock. 79. The PRESIDENT (translated trom French): Before 1 adjourn the meeting, 1 am sure that the Council would wish me to express our thanks to the members of the Secretariat, those who are present and those who are working elsewhere, for the efforts they have made ta enable us to hold this meeting. The meeting rose at 5.25 a.m.