One year ago Hungary, Slovakia and Rumaniadeclared war on the U.S. In Budapest last week the war-weary Hungarianstold an apocryphal story of how their declaration of war had beenrelayed to President Roosevelt by U.S. Secretary of State Cordell Hull.
Hull: “Mr. President, Hungary has just declared war on us.”
Roosevelt: “You don’t say? What is Hungary?”
Hull: “Hungary is a small Balkan kingdom on the Danube.”
Roosevelt: “A kingdom? Who’s the king?”
Hull: “Hungary has no king. It is run by an Admiral.”
Roosevelt: “An Admiral? Where’s his navy?”
Hull: “He has no navy, only an army.”
Roosevelt: “An army? Where is it fighting?”
Hull: “It is fighting against Russia.”
Roosevelt: “Russia? What is it fighting Russia for?”
Hull: “To gain more territory.”
Roosevelt: “From Russia?”
Hull: “No, from Slovakia and Rumania.”
Roosevelt: “Then why don’t the Hungarians fight Slovakia and Rumania?”
Hull: “They can’t. Slovakia and Rumania are their allies.”
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