Hot Books in the Cold War : The CIA-Funded Secret Western Book Distribution Program Behind the Iron Curtain

Chapter 16. Letters from Hungary Under Goulash Communism

Chapter 16 Letters from Hungary under Goulash Communism While most responses from Hungary came from individuals, letters from institutions rose to more than 15% of the total at the beginning of 1963, many from organizations that had long received books but had never replied before. Letters from institutions continued to increase steadily in 1965, again with many of them responding for the first time. Letters from Hungary showed a constant and notable enthusiasm for increased cultural exchanges with the West, for works on literature, Western languages, modern art, architecture, music, in particular jazz, religion, philosophy, history, and general culture. Books on politics and the humanities also began to elicit more responses, and requests for books on law and for scientific and technical works also increased. In 1964, the International Advisory Council (IAC) began to receive requests from people in the West who wanted books to be sent to their relatives inside Hungary. By mid-1966, the numbers of letters coming from students amounted to 15% of the total; a sizeable figure considering that for a long time practically no responses had come from this target group. During 1968, the receipt of 15,560 books was acknowledged and 7,704 books were requested. By the end of the year, some 50 spontaneous requests a month arrived, twice as many as at the end of 1967. Cultural exchange. From the start, letters from Hungary stressed the desire for cultural exchange and international cooperation, for a better understanding between Eastern Europe and the Western World, and for maintaining and strengthening cultural ties between Hungary and i5 Cold War.indb 399 2013.03.04. 13:37 400 Hot Books in the Cold War the West. Many letters also revealed a hunger for knowledge about the rest of the world. A doctor, who praised a London publisher for sending books, wrote: “I stress the importance of cultural relations with the country of the Magna Charta, especially after the [experience of] moral undermining , demoralizing totalitarianism, and [the] Second World War.”1 A philosopher wrote: “Apart from the fact that I could never myself buy such a treasure, it is a tremendous feeling to participate in such an altruistic cultural mission.”2 A researcher wrote: “Wishing you the greatest success in your work, because we appreciate this way of human spirit as the best way for understanding a great people for humanism and world peace.”3 A teacher said: “I am convinced that your project of sending books to foreign readers has fully accomplished its aim—to make known and loved the language, literature, and culture of your dear country and to work for peace among the nations.”4 A recipient of an English dictionary wrote: “Every material gives a connection between two countries. I hope [there] will come such a time when we also can contribute to your cultural life.” According to a chemist: “This free help given by you to scientists irrespective of the place where they live is also an important brick in building a better world.”5 For a high school teacher, the books he received were “a new approach of exchanging ideas and promoting better understanding among nations and people.” A Budapest librarian wrote: “We are very grateful for the gift which intends to strengthen the cultural ties between our two countries.”6 A teacher, who had received Paths of American Thought by Arthur Schlesinger, wrote: “I have considered it as a new approach of exchanging ideas and promoting a better understanding among 1   Memorandum to the President [FEC] from George C. Minden, March [1963] Highlights, dated April 8, 1963, 1. HIA, RFE/RL Corporate Records, Microfiche Provisional Box 3. All letter quotations up to the January–February 1970 Highlights Report originate from this source. 2  August [1963] Highlights Report, dated September 6, 1963, 2. 3   Memorandum from PSPD to the President, Free Europe, Inc., April [1966] Highlights, dated May 11, 1966, 6. 4  Ibid. 5   Both quotes from May–June [1967] Highlights, dated July 18, 1967, 5. 6   Both quotes from February [1965] Highlights, dated March 5, 1965, 3. i5 Cold War.indb 400 2013.03.04. 13:37 401 Letters from Hungary under Goulash Communism nations and people.”7 An economist wrote: “French-Hungarian culture has [shared] a beautiful past for a long time although in recent times the cultural ties have been somewhat less close. However we remain in love with beautiful books and are trying to...