1947
1947
1 Jan. The daily Szabad Nép reports: The Hungarian interior ministry has exposed an antirepublican conspiracy organized by the Commit-tee of the 7. Members: Bálint Arany, György Donáth, János Héder, Károly Kiss, Kálmán Saláta, Domokos Szent-lvány, and István Szentmiklóssy.
14 Jan. The National Assembly adopts law V of 1947 about the completion of the land reform. In the course of the land reform a total of 3,258,738 cadastral yokes are distributed among 642,342 applicants.
31 Jan.-3 Feb. The 35th congress of the Social Democrats. The party takes a stand in favour of the consolidation of worker unity and a left-wing policy. Once again Árpád Szakasits is elected general secretary.
10 Feb. In Paris, the peace treaty with Hungary, Romania, Italy; Bulgaria and Finland is signed. In accordance with this, Hungary’s borders are identical with those of 1 June 1938 (Trianon border), with the difference that Czechoslovakia receives three villages – Horvátújfalu, Oroszvár and Dunacsúny – situated on the right bank of the Danube. Hungary is obliged to pay compensation to the Soviet Union of USD 200 million, to Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia of USD 100 million.
27 Feb. The people’s court opens the trial of the anti-republican conspirators. On 2 July, the National Council of People’s Courts endorses the death sentence passed on György Donáth, the sentence of Lajos Dálnoki Veress is amended to 15 years in prison, and 10 years labour for Sándor András.
14 March Hungary and Austria resume diplomatic relations.
29 March The Russian institute of the Péter Pázmány University of Sciences opens.
22 Apr. The “silver train” arrives in Hungary returning looted art treasures and silver taken to Germany.
2-5 May Romanian premier Petru Groza pays an official visit to Hungary at the head of a 100-member delegation.
4 May The 3rd national steering committee of the Peasant Party elects Péter Veress as president and Ferenc Erdei as general secretary.
14 May Premier Ferenc Nagy travels to Switzerland for a holiday, and then on 30 May he announces his resignation at the Hungarian embassy in Berne.
31 May Government of Lajos Dinnyés (Smallholder) formed. Deputy PMs: Mátyás Rákosi (Communist) and Árpád Szakasits (Social Democrat), state minister István Dobi (Smallholder).
2 June Béla Varga (Smallholder), president of the National Assembly, travels abroad.
3 June István Dobi elected president of the Smallholders. The Smallholders expel Ferenc Nagy and Béla Varga.
Beginning of June Some of the heads and staff of the Hungarian embassies in Bern, Vienna, Ankara, London, Paris, Rome and Washington deny recognition of the Dinnyés government and renounce their commissions.
11 June The government sets up the National Planning Board. President: Imre Vajda (Social Democrats), general secretary: Andor Bere (Communist).
1 July National Assembly approves law XVII of 1947 on the Three Year Plan.
10 July The inter-party conference and government decide: Hungary is not going to take part in the Paris conference on the Marshall Plan.
16 July The National Assembly ratifies the peace treaty.
20 July The formation of the Independent Hungarian Democratic Party. Leader: István Balogh, former general secretary of the Smallholders. The political council of the Hungarian Freedom Party (Sulyok Party) disbands the party.
28 July Hungarian Independence Party formed under the leadership of Zoltán Pfeiffer.
31 Aug. Parliamentary elections in Hungary. Results: Communists 1,113,050 votes (22.27%) 100 seats; Smallholders 769,763 votes (15.4%) 68 seats; Social Democrats 744,641 votes (14.9%) – 67 seats; Peasant Party 415,465 votes (8.31 %) – 36 seats; Christian Women’s Camp 69,536 votes (1.39%) – 4 seats; Democratic People’s Party 820,453 votes (16.41 %) – 60 seats; Hungarian Independence Party 670,547 votes (13.42%) – 49 seats; MRP 83,169 votes (1.68%) – 6 seats; FMDP 260,420 votes (5.21 %) -18 seats; PDP 50,294 votes (1.01 %) – 3 seats.
1 Sept. Several leaders of the Hungarian Social Democrats, referring to the fraudulent use of ballot papers, express doubts about the validity of the elections. Social Democrat ministers refuse to enter their offices.
24 Sept. Lajos Dinnyés forms the government. The post of state minister is abolished.
4 Nov. Zoltán Pfeiffer, leader,of the Independence Party, goes abroad. On 20 Nov. his party is disbanded by the Ministry of the Interior and 48 MPs are deprived of their mandate.
21 Nov. The Hungarian Parliament approves law XXX on bank nationalization.
22-26 Nov. Under the leadership of Lajos Dinnyes, a Hungarian delegation visits Romania. On the 25th, they sign a cultural agreement.
1 Dec. The first issue of Gsillag, the periodical of the Writers’ Union, appears. Editor: Andor Német.
6-8 Dec. Under the leadership of Josip Tito a delegation visits Budapest. On 8 Dec. they sign a Hungarian-Yugoslav agreement on friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance.
