The Interrogation of László Rajk, 7 June 1949

A Transcript of the Secret Recording

[...]

Kádár: Let me tell you something now. First, from the moment you set foot in the workers' movement, to this hour as we're talking, the Party is perfectly aware of your life. That's one. Second, the Party is aware of your activities, your various deeds. That's the second. The third, we're paying close attention to the story you dished out during your stay here. That's the third. The fourth, you are thoroughly familiar with our Party leadership.

[Kádár:] You are also familiar with the actions of our Party leadership.

Rajk: Yes, I'm familiar, yes.

[Rajk:] I'm very familiar, yes.

Kádár: You're familiar. You know who and what makes up our Party leadership.

Rajk: I know.

Kádár: And you really believe our Party leadership will fall for what you've been dish- ing out here for a week? You believe that?

Rajk: Well, for the time being ...

Kádár: You believe it?

Rajk: All I can say is ...

Kádár: Tell us. Do you believe that?

Rajk: I believed and still believe in the Party.

Kádár: That they'll fall for what you've been dishing out here for a week?

Rajk: I believed and continue to believe in the Party. I have nothing to do with these accusations ...

Kádár: Hold on. Do you believe the Party leadership is taken in by what for a week you've been dishing out here?

Rajk: I'm sorry, but I'm not dishing out anything.

Kádár: Do you or don't you believe it?

Rajk: I have got to believe it, because I am telling the truth.

Kádár: That the Party leadership is taken in by what you've been dishing out for a week?

Rajk: They've got to believe it, because I'm telling the truth.

Kádár: You say you're an honest Party member. Why do you think the Party decided last August that you should leave Interior Affairs? Because you were an honest Party member?

Rajk: I think it's because ...

Kádár: Because you were an honest Party member?

Rajk: I made mistakes in the Interior Ministry, the kind of mistakes which made it impossible for me to stay on.

Kádár: Tell us. Do you know that last August our Party leadership gave you one last chance to prove to us that you are an honest man? Do you know that?

Rajk: Yes, I know that.

Kádár: In which case, why are you telling me now that you're an honest man?

Rajk: I have done nothing against the Party that could be construed as betrayal, the deliberate betrayal ...

Farkas: ... What's this? Is this any way for a Communist to act?

Rajk: It's no way for a Communist to act, and for this I must pay the penalty, for being so blind politically, - but that, that I did all this on purpose because I'm a provocateur myself, an imperialist agent, that won't hold water.

Kádár: Fine. Then listen! I told you we haven't got much time. I say just one thing. You're not our man, you're the enemy's man. And don't you forget it!

Rajk: I beg you not to ...

Kádár: It's nothing to smile about because here ...

Rajk: I'm not smiling, but I beg you, so there shouldn't be a tragic mistake here.

Kádár: Hold on! Don't forget, you're not our man, but the enemy's man. Don't forget that! Second, so you shouldn't have any illusions, our Party leadership is in full agreement about this thing. Am I understood?

Rajk: You're understood.

Kádár: The question for us here is whether you're a pitiful wretch who has fallen a victim to the enemy, or whether from the moment you set foot in the workers' movement you've been an obstinate and dogged enemy of our movement. This is the only question, and your attitude will have to provide the answer.

[...]

Translated by Judith Sollosy