A public statement by then Secretary of State Randell Hull in July, 1944, in which he warned the pro-Nazi Hungarian Government of post-war punishment if it continued to persecute Jews, was the subject of discussion at a special cabinet meeting of the Sztojay Government, it was revealed here today at the war crimes trial of Bela Imredi, anti-Semitic former Hungarian premier.
Arnoti Jungerth, who was deputy foreign minister in the government of Doeme (##)tojay, testified that at a meeting of the cabinet he reported on the reaction abroad to Hungary’s mistreatment of Jews, citing the Hull statement and the diplomatic intercessions by representatives of neutral countries. The cabinet, he said, objected to his “pro-Jewish attitude” and Imredi, who was a member of the Government, said: “Why don’t they worry about the Hungarian women, children and aged who are being bombed?”
At previous sessions, Imredi and several of his colleagues denied that they had ever heard the Allied Government’s broadcast declaration that persons who aided in the persecution and massacre of Jews would be treated as war criminals. They alleged that the Germans were solely responsible for the deportation and death of over 500,000 Hungarian Jews. A witness for the prosecution testified yesterday that Imredi had refused to grant Jewish war veterans exemption from the anti-Jewish laws.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
