Stalin I.V. Speech after signing Soviet-Hungarian treaty at a reception in the Kremlin

 February 20, 1948

We have always striven to create good-neighborly relations with Hungary, regardless of what system prevailed in Hungary. You probably remember that a few months before the war, the Soviet and Hungarian governments exchanged greetings. At the same time, we returned to Hungary those banners that in 1848 were captured as trophies by the tsarist troops. But the Hungarian government a little later declared war on the Soviet Union. We were attacked and there was nothing we could do but defend ourselves. Near Voronezh we came face to face with the Hungarian corps.

In relation to Hungary, we were not guided by a feeling of revenge and hostility. The feeling of revenge and hostility is not a basis in politics at all. Foreign policy must be built on reality. When there was a turning point in the course of the war, a turning point, when the star of the Germans began to set, the head of Hungary at that time, Horthy, asked us for a truce. We have granted this request. If we were guided by a feeling of revenge and enmity towards Hungary, we would not meet this request.

Horthy did not finish the job, retreated, gave himself into the hands of the Germans. And new people came to Hungary to represent the people. Hungary is happy that these new people have appeared, for it owes its independence to them.

We are not to blame for Hungary. The Russia of the tsars was guilty. The Russian Tsar in 1848 helped the Habsburg Monarchy suppress the Hungarian revolution. We remember this. But we are not responsible, because we shot the last tsar in 1918 in the Urals and thus put an end to the previous system.

Now we are talking about friendship between the Soviet Union and Hungary. And this word "friendship" is not an empty phrase, not propaganda!

What is the reason why small nations have confidence in the Soviet Union and its policy?

The reason for this, first of all, lies in the ideology of our [c. 458] state, the foundations of which were laid by Lenin. Each nation, large and small, has some peculiarities peculiar only to it, each nation contributes to the cause of increasing the common wealth of mankind. In every nation there is something that neither the Russians, nor the Ukrainians, nor other peoples have. There are nations in the Soviet Union that had already begun to die out, but have now revived and which have received from us, for example, even the alphabet.

If we did not treat small peoples with respect, if we did not honor their rights and national independence, if we interfered in the internal affairs of small states, then we would oppose our ideology and disorganize our party. Can we do it? Not! We cannot do this. If we did this, we would cut the branch under us.

Another reason that makes us honor the independence of small states is the composition of our state. Look at the Soviet Union! Here there are not only large nations, but also small ones, there are nationalities, nationalities. Can we disregard the opinion of our nationalities when it comes to our attitude towards small peoples living outside our country? Not! We cannot do this, otherwise we would undermine the foundations of our multinational state.

These are the reasons that explain why real friendship is possible between a great power like the Soviet Union and a small state like Hungary.

When we talk about friendship, we take it seriously. By this we mean that we are ready to make even sacrifices for the sake of this friendship, if someone tries to break it.

Based on all this, I said that the friendship between the great Soviet Union and small Hungary is not an empty phrase, not propaganda. Therefore, with a clear conscience, I raise a glass to the friendship of the Soviet Union and Hungary.

Long live the friendship between the peoples of the Soviet Union and the people of the democratic Republic of Hungary.

Uk Vilag (Budapest). 1948. May 14.

RGASPI. F. 558. Op. 1. D. 5324. L. 31–33.