Confidential telegram nº 299 from the MNE to the Portuguese Legation in Berlin explaining the real situation.
Archives
Regent Horthy announces on the radio that he will reach an understanding with the Soviets. Coup by Szalasi, a Hungarian Nazi, who takes over the Government
4 Nov. 1944
Telegram nº 347 from the Portuguese Legation in Berlin communicating start of talks with the German Foreign Ministry on the situation of the Hungarian Jews protect by the Portuguese Legation in Budapest, revealing German counter-information and unawareness of Count Tovar, Portuguese Minister in Berlin.
(AHD – Cipher, Collection Telegrams from Berlin)
31 Oct. 1944
Confidential telegram nº 298 from the MNE to the Portuguese Legation in Berlin clarifying that although steps had been taken in Budapest regarding procedures vis-a-vis Jews in general “together with the Nuncio and other neutrals”, “steps taken by each on behalf of its protégés and passports have been on an individual basis. Joint action step recommended in mine 295 would not suit us as some might exceed the limits of prudence and others fall short”.
(AHD – Cipher, Collection Telegrams to Berlin)
31 Oct. 1944
Confidential telegram nº 298 from the MNE to the Portuguese Legation in Berlin clarifying that although steps had been taken in Budapest regarding procedures vis-a-vis Jews in general “together with the Nuncio and other neutrals”, “steps taken by each on behalf of its protégés and passports have been on an individual basis. Joint action step recommended in mine 295 would not suit us as some might exceed the limits of prudence and others fall short”.
(AHD – Cipher, Collection Telegrams to Berlin)
30 Oct. 1944
Telegram nº 295 from the MNE to the Portuguese Legation in Berlin communicating the departure from Budapest of the Portuguese Charge d’affaires and instructing Legation to reiterate need to ensure respect for Portuguese passports issued to Jews in Budapest and accentuate repercussions on Luso-German relations any persecution our protected persons as we will hold occupying power responsible for all measures taken”.
(AHD – Cipher, Collection Telegrams to Berlin)
29 Oct. 1944
Telegram nº 204 from the Portuguese Legation in Budapest to the MNE in which the Charge d’affaires communicates his departure from Budapest “in two diplomatic vehicles to Bregenz, Swiss border, with my wife, Mr. and Mrs. Gabor, Mrs. Tillmann and her daughter Agnes, Mr. Paulo Szasz and the driver, Victor Smick… please inform the Portuguese Minister in Bern of this telegram and say that Dr. Egry did not need a Swiss visa, Mr. Wertheimstein will await said visa in Buchs and the remaining refugees, Oscar, Rudolf and Rosa Guttmann hope that granting of transit visa Switzerland will be telegraphed urgently Swiss Legation Budapest.
(AHD – Collection Telegrams from Budapest)
27 Oct. 1944
Aide-Mémoire from the Royal Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Hungary releasing the 698 Jews bearing provisional Portuguese passports and detailing the conditions of their emigration.
(AHD – 2º P., A. 49, M 112)
27 Oct. 1944
Telegram nº 68 from the MNE to the Portuguese Legation in Bern instructing the Minister in that capital to act so that German visas are granted for transit to the Swiss border for group of refugees sheltered in Budapest Legation.
(AHD – 2º P., A. 49, M 112)
26 Oct. 1944
Telegram nº 198 from the Portuguese Legation in Budapest communicating that German visas were obtained in the Portuguese passports of nine refugees living in the Portuguese Legation since June.
(AHD – 2º P., A. 49, M 112)
25 Oct. 1944
Telegram nº 191 from the Portuguese Legation in Budapest communicating the imminent deportation of thousands of Jews in forced marches to Vienna, informing that among the condemned are some bearers of provisional Portuguese passports.
(AHD – 2º P., A. 49, M 112)
24 Oct. 1944
Telegram nº 188 from the Portuguese Legation in Budapest reporting conversation with Hungarian Foreign Minister on persecuted refugee’s bearers of Portuguese passports, during which the latter had declared that concessions in this regards were linked to recognition of the new Hungarian government.
(AHD – Cipher, Collection Telegrams from Budapest)
24 Oct. 1944
Telegram nº 187 from the Portuguese Legation in Budapest on the question of the recognition of the new Hungarian government which the Charge d’affaires considers of dubious legitimacy but with whom he is forced to deal “to try and save the lives of a few hundred Jews bearers of provisional Portuguese passports”.
(AHD – 2º P., A. 49, M 112)
23 Oct. 1944
Confidential telegram nº 286 from the MNE to the Portuguese Legation in Berlin conveying instructions that legal arguments should not be used in representations to the German government to ensure that Portuguese passports granted to the Jews in Hungary should be respected: “persecution Semite elements Hungary has obeyed political purposes and hatred that only concern for subsequent reaction may possibly alter slightly. This is what appears to have happened perhaps following protests by neutrals and forceful note written by Apostolic Nuncio and representatives neutral powers… Our aim to lessen as we cannot prevent consequences persecution regarding all those chose Portuguese shelter. The desire that this be expressed to occupying power is all the greater as our Charge d’affaires Budapest has been recalled to Lisbon to inform situation in that country where from here it looks as if any government with constitutional or even national characteristics seems to have disappeared”.
(AHD – Cipher, Collection Telegrams to Berlin)
22 Oct. 1944
Telegram nº 85 from the MNE to the Portuguese Legation in Budapest authorizing its request for creation of a Portuguese Red Cross Section in the Legation to “ensure insofar as possible assistance our protégés following your departure”.
(AHD – 2º P., A. 49, M 112)
22 Oct. 1944
Coming from the Lisbon daily Diário da Manhã of a note from the Hungarian Legation declaring that it remains loyal to Regent Horthy.
(enlarged)
(AHD – 2º P., A. 47, M 112)
22 Oct. 1944
Telegram nº 84 from the MNE to the Portuguese Legation in Budapest instructing the Charge d’affaires “to without delay for Portugal communicating only to government that had been recalled by own government inform of events occurred. Better to make clear as already been said there and we have said in Berlin we wish to believe that due protection of Portuguese passports and persons sheltered Portuguese Legation house will be assured”.
(AHD – Cipher, Collection Telegrams to Budapest)
20 Oct. 1944
Telegram nº 178 from the Portuguese Legation in Budapest on the appointment of new government and the situation of Jews; the new Prime Minister Szalasi announces on the radio that no type of foreign protection of Jews would be tolerated and that passports already given would not be respected.
(AHD – 2º P., A. 49, M 112)
18 Oct. 1944
Telegram nº 283 from the MNE to the Portuguese Legation in Berlin informing that the German Legation in Budapest does not recognize the protection of Portuguese passports granted to Jews in Hungary and saying that steps should be taken with the German government to change this attitude.
(AHD – 2º P., A. 49, M 112; Cipher, Collection Telegrams from Berlin)
18 Oct. 1944
Telegram nº 176 from the Portuguese Legation in Budapest to the MNE about the German authorities’ disregard for “provisional foreign passports, mainly Swedish and Portuguese”, granted to Hungarian Jews and requesting steps to be taken in Berlin.