János Péter (28 October 1910 – 26 February 1999) was a Hungarian politician, who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs between 1961 and 1973. Prior to that, he was a Calvinist bishop.

János Péter
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary
In office
13 September 1961 – 14 December 1973
Preceded byEndre Sík
Succeeded byFrigyes Puja
Personal details
Born(1910-10-28)28 October 1910
Alsónyék, Austria-Hungary
Died26 February 1999(1999-02-26) (aged 88)
Budapest, Hungary
Political partyMSZMP
Professionpolitician

Dean Rusk, the US Secretary of State reported that Péter had attempted to defraud the United States by pretending to be in contact with the government of North Vietnam. Rusk engaged in what he at the time believed to be serious negotiations to end the war in Vietnam. However, a defector named János Radványi later informed Rusk "that Péter was not in an effective contact with Hanoi, and that they had had no encouragement from Hanoi about the things that Péter was saying to me." Rusk came to believe that the Péter overture "was an instance that was just a plain fraud."[1]

References edit

  1. ^ D. Rusk, LBJ Oral History Collection, Interview II, p. 14
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Foreign Affairs
1961–1973
Succeeded by