Return of an Ancient Symbol

A legendary Hungarian treasure stirs passions in the U.S.

It's a kick in the teeth to the Hungarian people," charged Ohio Democratic Congresswoman Mary Rose Oakar. "It's a great blunder committed by President Carter," protested Polish-Hungarian World Federation President Karol Ripa. These--and worse--outcries, along with demonstrations at the White House gates, were raised again last week by Hungarian-Americans at Carter's decision to return the Crown of St. Stephen to Budapest. The legendary symbol of Hungarian nationhood, the priceless gold crown is fitted with rubies, and displays exquisitely detailed enamel portraits. Scholars say that Pope Sylvester II gave the treasure to Hungary's first King, Stephen I, for a Christmas gift in the year 1000. It has been stored at Fort Knox, Ky., after it was handed over to U.S. troops at the end of World War II by a Hungarian colonel charged with its custody.

Possession of the crown has been a nagging issue for more than three decades. The Hungarian government has insisted on its return, while the U.S. has maintained that delivery would have to await improving relations between the two countries. Two months ago, the Carter Administration decided that the time had come. The Communist regime of Party Chief Janos Kadar has paid its debts, exchanged diplomatic representatives with the U.S. and slightly liberalized its authoritarian rule. "Returning the crown is the correct thing to do," says a State Department official, adding: "It belongs to the Hungarian people and it should be with them." To emphasize the importance that the U.S. attaches to the gesture, Secretary of State Vance is scheduled to lead the U.S. delegation at this week's ceremonial return of the crown and other Hungarian artifacts, including the royal sword and scabbard, golden orb, and scepter.

Not all Hungarian-Americans oppose Carter's decision. "The crown can do more good on public display in Hungary, where it is a symbol of historical and religious significance," argues Zoltan Gombos, editor of a chain of Hungarian newspapers based in Cleveland. There has been no accurate opinion poll among the diverse community of America's 3 million Hungarians. But so far, the loudest response has been protest. "The crown was given over to the Americans for trust and safeguarding until Hungary is really free again," says Leslie E. Acsay, president of Hungarian House in New York. "But Hungary is in the same position it was in 30 years ago--the Russians are still there." Echoing this theme, Kansas Republican Senator Robert Dole has charged that Carter is engaged in a needless "knee-jerk" human rights effort. Dole sued in federal court to block Carter's move until the Senate approved, but last week a judge in Kansas City. Kansas turned him down.

Although critics equate the crown's return with a U.S. endorsement of the Communist regime, President Carter disagrees, as he made clear last November in a meeting with a delegation that appeared at the White House to try to persuade him to keep the treasure until Hungary could shuck off its Communist rule. During Richard Nixon's presidency, said Carter, he and his family had viewed America's historic documents at the National Archives in Washington. "We didn't think of them as Nixon's Bill of Rights and Nixon's Constitution," said Carter. "We thought of them as belonging to the people."

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