Hungarian Studies Review Vol. 21., 1994

Articles - NANDOR F. DREISZIGER: Emigre Artists and Wartime Politics: The Hungarian-American Council for Democracy, 1943-45

"IN FACE OF COLLAPSE OF MUSSOLINI IT IS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE YOU SHOULD IMMEDIATELY INVITE LUGOSI VINCE AND ALL PROGRES­SIVE HUNGARIANS TO CONFERENCE SERIOUS AND CLOSE COLLABORA­TION HAVE CABLED SIMILAR REQUEST TO THE CHICAGO COUNCIL TO COLLABORATE WITH YOU" (Passed per CCC 143224-43) Vamhery's opposition to the Council was set forth very clearly in a letter to Mozes Simon which was forwarded by Simon on August 14th, 1943 to Count Karolyi. In the letter, Vambery, while acknowledging that unity among the Hungarians in America was desirable, stated that "such unity, however, is an impossibility, a priori, because the AMERIKAI DEMOK­RATIKUS MAGYAR SZOVETSEG (DMASZ) (AMERICAN HUNGARIAN DEMOCRATIC ASSOCIATION COMMITTEE) are not willing to collaborate with such democratic elements as have the principles that we have. On the other hand, realistically, "All of the Non-Nazi Associations" means nothing else but the DMASZ and the presently formed council—which adopted the principles of the DMASZ-but in which the communists predominate. As to myself, I don't "think a popular front is desirable. Moreover I have definite knowledge from competent RUSSIAN sources that such a grouping is not held to be desirable even on the Russian side. Also I am not at all convinced that a joint declaration of the DMASZ and of the Council would carry much weight with the Allied Governments and particularly with the U.S. Government. "After the formation of the Chicago council. I have obtained information just to the contrary from competent places, expressed in non-uncertain-terms. "This of course does not eliminate the possibility of all the non-Nazi Associa­tions making some steps together. But this is beyond me, as the Committee of New Democratic Hungary, being composed of Hungarian citizens only, may not participate in domestic, American, political activities." It is apparent that Count Karolyi was successful in his appeal, inasmuch as Vambery indicated his willingness to negotiate, and on October 22nd, 1943, together with Jaszi, sent the following message to Count Karolyi: "...WE HAIL THE VALIANT UNSWERVING LEADER OF OUR MOVE­MENT WITH WARMEST SINCERE SYMPATHY" (Passed) 5. RUSTEM VAMBERY New School of Social Research 66 West 12 Street, NYC A Government agency (2) identifies Vambery as a former professor of Oriental Science at the Hungarian National University at Budapest. During the "white terror" (Horthy regime), he was deprived of his position and subsequently came to the U.S. He defended Count Michael Karolyi before the Hungarian Court of Last Appeals in his trial for treason (1). He has been activc in promoting the American branch of the Karolyi movement. He is also a leader of an Hungaiian group subsidized by the Czecho-Slovakian legation in New York City, which advocates the reconstruction of pre-World War Czecho-Slovakia. In this connection he works with IGNAC SCHULZ, who is said to be an employee of the Czecho-Slovakian Legation in New York City. According to source (3), Vambery is the leader of the AMERICAN COMMIT­TEE OF THE NEW DEMOCRATIC HUNGARY MOVEMENT This organization was formed in 1942 as a liberal, anti-Horthy, anti-Hapsburg movement. It has worked closely with THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF DEMOCRATIC HUNGARIANS, which is under the direction of Oscar Jaszi. This latter group was formed in 1941, and it differs from Vamhery's organization only in Ihe fact thai its members must be American citizens (of Hungarian descent).

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