CARDINAL'S ADMISSIONS CAUSE SOME SURPRISE

Chronicle (Levin), 5 February 1949, Page 5

CARDINAL'S ADMISSIONS CAUSE SOME SURPRISE

(N.Z.P.A.-

-Reuter.

Policy Not Supported By Some Of His Bishops ... ISfciiAofa. *

Covyrljjht)

Received Friday, 9 p.m. J LONDON, February 4. Cardinal Mindszenty is a man of middle height with eloseeropped grey hair. He answered his aeeusers in afprecise metallic voiee with oceasional gestures with his index finger. The Times' correspondent said there was no suggestion in his appearance thathe had been violently handled during his six weeks in prison nor that he was not niaster of his words in eoiirt. He surprised some people with the admission that he had written a letter to the Minister of Justice — eontradieting his previous attitucl e— exp ressing willingness to withdraw froin the archbishopric if it would help an agreement between Church and State. The correspondent eontinues: "If the answers whieh he began to give the Court this evening bear out the tone of this letter it will be neeessary either to assume that he collapsed under distress of imprisonment or to revise the view of him as a man resolved 011 martyrdom." The correspondent said some people expeeted that the Cardinal might break dovvn after his long period in prisom Some of the bench of bishops privately had not iupported his policy and, aecording to reliable information, the Arehbishop of Eger (M.onsignor Csapik) who had reeently had several talks with important Communists, visited the Cardinal in prison and was told of the Cardinai's wish to alter his attitude in return for his freedom. The bishops immediately had a conference .and on Febrnary 2 issued a most conspicnonsly mild statement saying they did not intend to intervene at the trial and trust ed to the wise discretion of the Government." . Reuter's Budapest correspondent says Hungary has asked the United States Government through the Ameriean Legation for t immediate withdrawal of Peter Koczak, a secretary at the Legation. Koczak 's name was mentioned in Mindszenty 's trial. The Hungarian jMinister in Lonclon (.Mr. Eros) defeiidnig tne Ilungarian authorities' attitude to Cardinal Mindszenty, said the Cardinai's arrest had been i'alsely interpreted as a suppression ot religious freedom. Mr Eros said the truth was that the Caidina , far 1'rom fighting for religious freedom whieh was neyer imperilled, used his high offiee and the maehinery of the Catholic Church for activities designed to overthrow the Hutigarian Repiibhc Mr Eros emphasised that Cardinal Mindszenty 's trial was public. it was alisurd to allege that the Cardinal was drugged. He was m o-ood health and in possession of all his mental taeulties. ^ After two and a half hours' questioning about documents alle°ed to have been seized in the cellar of his palace, Cardinal .Mindszenty said: "I aceept all these documents and admit and re"ret that I wrote thein." He said they were divided mto three groups— ' the first group of minor importance written but never posted; and the set-ond posted but intended to help not liarm ihe ^ "The third group dealt with Hungarian prisoners of war, the Hungarian minority in Czecho'slovakia and similar problems. These were sent to a foreign Power. These 1 doii't regret because tney were pastoral acts aimed at helppig- . , , • The president (Dr. Olti) said the Court did not consider all the 1,,tCTho1^c»tor asked: "Did Chapin and Kocsak (United States Leaation aftache) visit you at night? For tiie first time during the hearing there was laughter when Cardinal .Mindszenly said: "There is murh more timo at night. Cardinal Mindszenty said he knew about eertain htaekmarket dealing by minor Catholic officials. He admitted he asked foreign Mplomats and the Vatiean to place the saered crown of the Hungarian kings in a safe lodging place at Vatiean City. He was sorry he had done that, but his only mterest was the.safety of the crown.