In six closely typed, brusquely written pages, the U.S. Government last week nailed down the responsibility for Hungary's desperate economic condition. In a note which Ambassador Walter Bedell Smith delivered to the Kremlin. Washington put the blame squarely on Soviet occupation measures. Items:
Reparations are absorbing between 80 and 90% of current coal, iron and machinery output. "Hungarian heavy industry is producing practically nothing for domestic requirements."
The Russians have removed $124,000,000 worth of factory equipment, about a third as much as was destroyed during five years of war.
The Red Army, whose 600,000 Hungarian-based troops live off the land, requisitioned 4,000,000...
