György Ghika

Austro-Hungarian foreign service (1906–1918)

Ghika joined the Austro-Hungarian diplomatic and consular service on 9 July 1906. On 3 December 1906, he was appointed consular attaché in Belgrade, the capital of the Kingdom of Serbia. On 22 July 1908, he was transferred alongside the consulate to Niš. He was promoted to the rank of vice-consul on 1 December 1908.

On 23 September 1910, Ghika commenced his consular posting in Milan, Kingdom of Italy. On 13 June 1912, he was reassigned to the Austro-Hungarian consulate in Hamburg, German Empire, where he served throughout the duration of World War I.

Consular service in Hamburg and New York (1919–1939)

Following the dissolution of Austria-Hungary, Ghika entered the foreign service of the newly independent Hungary. He remained stationed in Hamburg, serving as an appointed Consul First Class from January 1919 to 1 August 1922. From 1 August 1922 until 27 June 1926, he continued in Hamburg as Consul First Class invested with the personal title of Consul General Second Class. During his service in Germany, he authored and delivered a published lecture examining political developments in post-war Hungary.

On 17 February 1927, Ghika was entrusted with the leadership of the Royal Hungarian Consulate General in New York City. He headed the mission as Consul General Second Class between 1927 and 1934, and was subsequently elevated to Consul General First Class in 1934, a role he maintained until his diplomatic posting to East Asia in late 1939.

Envoy to Japan (1939–1941)

On 16 September 1939, following the outbreak of World War II, Ghika was appointed Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to head Hungary's newly established legation in Tokyo, Japan. Upon arriving in Tokyo, he officially presented his credentials and commenced his duties on 12 December 1939.

During his tenure in Tokyo, Hungary formally acceded to the Tripartite Pact alongside Germany, Italy, and Japan on 20 November 1940. In recognition of his diplomatic service in East Asia, he was decorated with the Order of the Sacred Treasure (First Class) by the Emperor of Japan, as well as the Order of the Pillar of State (Chu Kuo, First Class) on 3 May 1941.

Envoy to the United States, Cuba, and Mexico (1941)

Following the resignation of Hungarian Minister János Pelényi in late 1940, legation counselor István Rothkugel served as interim chargé d'affaires in Washington, D.C. Ghika was appointed to succeed Pelényi, simultaneously receiving credentials on 1 February 1941 as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Cuba and Mexico.

Ghika formally took charge of the Hungarian Legation in Washington, D.C. on 18 March 1941. On 4 April 1941, he was received by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in a private audience at the White House. Upon presenting his letters of credence, Ghika formally informed President Roosevelt of the suicide of Hungarian Prime Minister Count Pál Teleki, which had occurred the previous day following the German ultimatum to invade Yugoslavia through Hungarian territory.

Ghika led the Washington legation until 11 December 1941, when Prime Minister László Bárdossy declared the existence of a state of war between Hungary and the United States, leading to the termination of diplomatic relations. Ghika was recalled by the Hungarian government and returned to Budapest via diplomatic exchange alongside his daughter.

The following is an excerpt from Galeazzo Ciano's diaries:

Hungarian uneasiness is expressed by this little story making the rounds in Budapest. The Minister of Hungary (i. e. Ghika) declares war on the United States, but the official who receives the communication is not very well informed on European matters and hence asks several questions.
He asks. ″Is Hungary a republic?′ ″No, it is a kingdom.′ ″Then you have a king?′ ″No, we have an admiral.″ ″Then you have a fleet?′ ″No, we do not have any sea.″ ″Do you have any claims then?′ ″Yes.″ ″Against America?′ ″No.″ ″Against England?′ ″No.″ ″Against Russia?′ ″No.″ ″But against whom do you have these claims?′ ″Against Romania.″ ″Then you will declare war on Romania?′ ″No sir. We are allies.″
There is a great deal of truth in this series of paradoxes.

Secret armistice mission in Bern (1943)

After retiring from active diplomatic service, Ghika was awarded the Grand Cross of the Hungarian Order of Merit on 27 February 1943 by Regent Miklós Horthy.

In late 1943, as the military situation deteriorated for the Axis powers, circles around Regent Horthy sought backchannel negotiations to exit the war. On 18 December 1943, Ghika acted as an intermediary in Bern, Switzerland, delivering a confidential communication from Miklós Horthy Jr. regarding Hungary's potential armistice and capitulation to the Western Allies. In Bern, Ghika verbally conveyed to Allied representatives that the Hungarian leadership was awaiting an operational signal from the Western Allies before acting.