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PART II - THE VOLCANO ERUPTS
CHAPTER 10 - A GREAT PATRIOT

Then we started discussing the problem of the Soviets. I suggested once again that the United Nations should have a special Hungarian representative. He said that he was thinking of me as the U. N. representative, but Imre Nagy wanted to represent Hungary himself. Once again he urged me to join the government. I explained that I didn't want to become a member of the cabinet, for I felt that my task lay in putting the party in shape, and then I'd go to the City Hall.
The Gray Eminence asked me to join him for a talk.
" Zoltan feels very badly about the fact that the Smallholders Party does not back him. In fact, the Communists have asked him whom he represents and on whose behalf he speaks. You can't leave him in the lurch in a situation as difficult as this."
I let him go on with his talking and didn't tell him that I had in my pocket the Party resolution backing Tildy. I was determined to make the document public only after Bela Kovacs agreed to join the government.
The Gray Eminence changed the subject. He explained that they would like to know what post I was willing to accept. Would it be in the cabinet, or the United Nations, or would I like to be the Mayor of Budapest once again? I gave him a specific answer. I would not accept a cabinet post in any circumstances. I would be willing to become Mayor of Budapest but only by election, not by appointment of the government. This had always been my ambition, although if I could benefit my country at the United Nations I would go.
In about an hour and a half Kovacs returned.
" Did you get all the information you needed from Nagy?" I inquired.
" Yes," he replied in a firm voice. Then he turned to the Gray Eminence. "Prepare a release saying that I agree to become an Observer-Member of the government."
The Gray Eminence tried to explain very politely that he could be either a Minister or an Observer, but not both.