Identity Statement

Reference Code

HU OSA 375-0-3

Title

Correspondence of the British Foreign Office on Eastern Europe between 1938 and 1956

Date(s)

1938 - 1982

Description Level

Series

Extent and medium (processed)

2 Oversized box (40 cm), 0.8 linear meters
1 Archival boxes, 0.12 linear meters

Context

Name of creator(s)

Great Britain, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Pallai, Péter

Archival history

The series contains copies of materials originally kept at the British National Archives. Original reference code of the documents created by the British Foreign Office starts with 'FO' in the catalog. The reference code of the Special Operation Executive's materials start with 'HS4'.

Content and Structure

Scope and Content (Narrative)

As the largest part of the collection, this series contains detailed, chronological Foreign Office Communication from different periods of time. While the majority of them focuses primarily on Hungary, some are related to the broader context of Eastern European political and wartime developments. These documents are mainly telegrams and reports. The first period covers the wartime Hungarian situation in 1938-1944. It is followed by correspondence from 1944-1947, including different foreign legations worldwide (among others, Belgrade, Istanbul, New York, Moscow). The last period covers the events of 1956 and its direct aftermath. An outstanding part of the series consists of materials of the Special Operation Executive which functioned during the Second World War to promote sabotage and subversion and assist resistance groups in enemy occupied territory. As indicated by the original reference code ’HS4‘, these materials are related to the Eastern European wartime operations of the office. A dissertation on British Foreign Office Attitudes toward the Soviet Union in 1945 by Michael Burd is at the end of the series. Furthermore, interviews with high-ranking diplomats of the Foreign Office, namely Carlile Aylmer Macartney and Frank Roberts are placed here.

Accruals

Not Expected

System of arrangement

The series is arranged in chronological order.

Conditions of Access and Use

Conditions governing access

Not Restricted

Languages

English

Description Control

Archivist's note

Processed by Zsófia Mária Schmidt and Örs Lehel Tari, February 20, 2019.