Extract from a memorandum by the Department of External Affairs
'Official action in connection with the Case of His Eminence Cardinal Mindszenty'

Feb. 4

Mr. Nunan reported reply from State Department saying that the U.S. Minister in Budapest was being instructed to make known to Hungarian Government that the U.S. Government shared concern of Irish Government and supported request of Irish Minister for External Affairs that an Irish representative be permitted to visit Cardinal. The State Department Note added that, for fear of worsening the Cardinal's situation, the U.S. Government considered it would be inadvisable to give publicity to this action as such publicity might crystallise attitude of Hungarian authorities against the Cardinal to the further detriment of his position.

Feb. 7

The Chargé d'Affaires at Berne reported a call on M. Petitpierre,² Head of the Federal Political Department. He said that he had already discussed the matter with the Federal Council and he regretted that they had to come to a negative decision for the reasons:-:-

1. The Swiss attitude had always been that they should not interfere in the affairs of other countries, as their neutrality forbade such interference.
2. Ireland was a Catholic country and more independent in matters of this kind, whereas in Switzerland the position of different religions was more balanced. They had for example received a protest regarding the Swiss Catholic Bishops' resolution concerning Cardinal Mindszenty which was represented as an attempted interference in political matters.
3. Whilst the Federal Council would like to do something to save a man's life, they felt that any approach they could make to the Hungarian Government would have no more effect than intervention in the case of condemnations in Spain.

Feb. 8

The Chargé d'Affaires at Madrid, reported call on Director-General of Spanish Foreign Office who said Spain was in full sympathy with our efforts. Spain was prepared to support us, but it was pointed out that any action by Spain was more likely to be harmful to the Cardinal than otherwise. Spain had no relations with Hungary, but could make an approach through their Embassy at Paris or London if we so desired.

Feb. 9

The Minister at Paris reported call on M. Chauvel, Secretary-General of French Foreign Office. He gathered the impression that M. Chauvel took the view that, although the treatment of the Cardinal seemed to be unfair, the Cardinal's attitude seemed to be very provocative. In reply to the Minister's statement that the whole trial was a complete travesty of Justice, he said that that was certainly a point of view, but he could imagine people thinking otherwise.

In the meantime, many congratulatory messages on Irish Government's action have been received from different parts of the world, Resolutions of protest, etc., from Irish public bodies and learned institutions have been transmitted to the Hungarian Government direct by post and to the Hungarian Minister in London through the High Commissioner. The Budapest Radio referred, on the 1st February, to 'the Capitalist, Imperialist campaign against the Hungarian people's democracy, camouflaged with sympathy for Mindszenty and led by a silly outcry from Ireland'.