Telegram nº 22 from the MNE to the Portuguese Legation In Budapest saying “if for humanitarian reasons which the Portuguese Government has no wish to ignore asylum was given to political refugees or those in danger due to racial motives you should have requested instructions from the Ministry concerning a fact that involves responsibilities for the Portuguese government and to enable us to act if necessary. [Telegram] nº 49 implies that there are people under such conditions and others possibly guests only of the Legation. Distinction between them must be clearly made. Charge d’affaires shall maintain asylum of real political refugees until government fully aware of the case can give precise and definite instructions”.
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The Papal Nuncio lodges a protest with the Hungarian Foreign Ministry against the Government’s anti-Jewish policy
|28 Apr. 1944 | The first trainload of Hungarian Jews leaves for Auschwitz
10 May 1944
Telegram nº 49 from the Portuguese Legation in Budapest with information about the “12 persons lodged in Legation house Galgagyoerk are all Catholic although some of Jewish extraction. Of these people who have taken refuge on account of air raids and political persecution are one member Hungarian High Chamber, one Hungarian Minister Plenipotentiary, one nephew Hungarian Minister in Japan and one sister-in-law Baron Rothschild from London. You should know that other Legations neutral countries are proceeding in like fashion”.
(AHD – Cipher, Collection of Telegrams from Budapest)
10 May 1944
Telegram nº 46 from the Portuguese Legation in Budapest communicating that an insulting note against Minister Sampaio Garrido had been published on the press, motivated by the note of protest presented following the invasion of the Legation; the telegram suggests that the German Minister in Lisbon be apprised of the assault against the Portuguese Legation in Hungary and ends with the information that “under the terms of anti-Semi measures increasingly more horrendous atrocities being committed. Crimes multiply every day against Jews against noblemen and Christians”.
(AHD – Cipher, Collection of Telegrams from Budapest)
6 May 1944
Telegram nº 20 from the MNE to the Portuguese Legation in Budapest saying that “the Government regrets disturbances Legation about which it cannot in any case judge correctly without knowing what appears not to have been said by you concerning category and other identifying characteristics of persons guests or refugees Legation. Possibly disrespect connected with such fact… Current conditions recall determination no visa be granted without authorization Ministry”.
(AHD – Collection of Telegrams to Budapest)
6 May 1944
Telegram nº 44 from the Portuguese Legation in Budapest recounting “serious occurrence: Gestapo agents or Hungarian police broke in five a.m. 28 April country house where Legation recently installed on account of air raids… gang purported criminals took prisoner guests of Legation and when these said… they wished to return Legation were not allowed and forced to go to central police station Budapest. I strongly opposed such detention and after a few hours managed to have some of the people released. Same day occurrence sent Prime Minister a solemn indignant protest revolting attempt principle extra territoriality”.