Papers and Documents relating to the Foreign Relations of Hungary, Volume 1, 1919–1920 (Budapest, 1939)

Documents

1920 8og You are also requested to make representations to the Holy See that in the case of the Bishops of Szepes

1 and Rozsnyó,

2 their property and estate situated on the occupied territories should be settled according to the Hungarian laws applicable to the estates of the dignitaries of the Church. For your information I should like to say that we are filing our claims with respect to these matters also with the Reparation Commission. We shall insist on the satisfaction of these claims, especially in view of the fact that according to the Prince Primate,

3 Mr. Cheysson, the French financial expert at the Peace Conference himself declared that Church property situated on the occupied territory ought to be treated the same way as any other private property. Should the Holy See fail to withold confirmation until respect for these properties is fully guaranteed, it will deprive itself of the only device whereby it could expert pressure on the Czech Government. No. 853. 8357/pol. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Count Emeric Csáky, to the Minister of Hungary to the Vatican, Count Somssich. [TRANSLATION) Code telegram No. 40. BUDAPEST, December 7, 1920. Bishop Radnai of Besztercebánya, hearing that his bishopric will also be filled with a candidate of the Czech Government, has asked me to have the following statement conveyed to Secretary of State, Cardinal Gasparri: „I hereby declare that I reserve my right to the office of my bishopric. While I have stated that I will resign shou

1d the Holy Father

4 command me to do so, I have also stated that in such a case I request that appropriate subsistence should be fully guaranteed at the charge of the bishopric, in such a form that I should be fully secured even in case of devaluation ; that I claim to be entitled to 1 Párvy. a Bálás. 3 Csernoch. 4 Benedict XV.