Az Eszterházy Károly Tanárképző Főiskola Tudományos Közleményei. 1996. [Vol. 3.] Eger Journal of American Studies. (Acta Academiae Paedagogicae Agriensis : Nova series ; Tom. 23)

STUDIES - Tibor Giant: The Role of Calvinism in President Wilsotis Relationship to Hungary during World War 1

him; moreover, he maintained good connections with the few Hungarian-Americans who sided with him during 1912. One such person was the rather mysterious Edmund Gallauner, who was called upon in 1916 to provide similar services in Wilson's campaign for reelection.

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7 An even more significant personal connection for Wilson was the New York banker Alexander Konta, arguably the most controversial Hungarian-American figure of the entire war period. Their relationship may hardly be described as friendship; one may say instead that in Konta Wilson had a prominent Hungarian-American whom he could, and willingly did, use if needed. Their post-1912 connections, therefore, deserve special attention. 1916 saw the reestablishment of the Wilson-Konta contacts over the issue of Hungarian-American loyalties to the United States. Due to their involvement in sabotage, which also contributed to the forced withdrawal of the Austro-Hungarian Ambassador to Washington, Constantin Theodore Dumba,

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8 Hungarian-Americans had to face violent discrimination. Their natural reaction was a public demonstration of their loyalty to their new home country on 30 January 1916; and their resolution was handed over to Wilson by Konta in the White House.

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9 Other Hungarian-Americans, however, such as the editors of the all-powerful Szabadság of Cleveland, considered this move unnecessary and condemned Konta's action as offering the Hungarian-American vote to the President.

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0 Thus, at a time when Konta reentered the limelight in the White House his position was undermined in immigrant circles by the attacks in the press. 1

7 library of Congress: Thomas Woodrow Wilson Papers: Series 4: Case Files: no. 5080: Edmund Gallauner. (Hereafter: LC TWWP). 1

8 For Dumba's own account see: Constantin Theodore Dumba, Memoirs of a Diplomat. (London, 1933). 1

9 LC TWWP: Series 4: Case Files: No. 2898: Alexander Konta; WWPs 36: 205; Puskás Julianna, Kivándorló magyarok az Egyesült Államokban, 1880—1940. (Budapest, 1982): 303—15. 2

0 In the 29 February 1916 issue of the paper. 42