Memorandum by Maurice Moynihan
(Copy) (S13373 D)

At a meeting of the Government held on the 30th October, 1956, there was an informal discussion of the situation in Hungary arising out of the insurrection in that country, with particular reference to the question of any action that might be taken by Ireland to express sympathy with and support for the Hungarian people.

It was agreed that the appropriate action would be practical help in the form of money or necessary supplies, provided through the Irish Red Cross Society as required by the Society’s international commitments. It was contemplated that the Society would probably make a public appeal for funds for this purpose and would, in due course, apply for an additional State grant to cover any balance of expenditure that could not otherwise be defrayed by the Society.

The Minister for External Affairs explained that the practice of the International Red Cross authorities in such cases is to have immediate help sent from the nearest convenient place (in this case, Austria) and, then, to call on the national Red Cross Societies in the various countries to contribute. A request for assistance in connection with the Hungarian situation had already been received by the Irish Red Cross Society from the International Red Cross authorities, and some supplies had already been despatched.

The question of a motion in Dáil Éireann expressing sympathy with and support for the Hungarians having been raised, it was agreed that the Government would not introduce such a motion.

At a meeting of the Government held on the 6th November, 1956, the Minister for External Affairs informed his colleagues that a message had been received from the Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees¹ stating that the Austrian Government had appealed to the International Committee for the Reception of Migrants for assistance in dealing with large numbers of refugees reaching Austria from Hungary. Asylum in friendly countries was requested, as well as financial help. It was arranged that the Minister for External Affairs would discuss this matter with the Irish Red Cross Society.

The Minister for Defence² remarked, at the meeting of the Government held on the 6th November, that arrangements for a public appeal for funds to relieve the people of Hungary would be completed by the Irish Red Cross Society by the 7th November. Later on the 6th November, Mr. Berry, Department of Justice, informed me that the Red Cross Society proposed to make a collection for this purpose at the church gates throughout the country on Sunday, the 11th November, and that the necessary permits would be given by the Gárda authorities provided that suitable arrangements were made by the Society with certain other bodies who had already been given permits to hold public collections on that day.