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

Appendix III. Parliamentary debates

i994 I believe that when the Great Powers wish to see this hope realized, they will discover many things which need remedying in Eastern Europe, many things in the original text of the peace treaty which need to be revised. In all these, we must think not only of the present but also of the future. We must also strugle for the future generation, even if we cannot recover with one stroke our own prosperity and that peaceful and satisfied condition which every inhabitant of Hungary enjoyed before the war. Trees pruned during their winter sleep sprout again. These calamities befell us during our hibernation, when we were in a condition in which we could not defend ourselves, (Approval, exclamations from the left, „We were betrayed!") in a condition when we were betrayed both at home and abroad. But because we are conscious of our strength, because we know that the pruned tree will sprout again and because we feel blood in our veins, the fluid which brings to life the new branches, we must not become desperate. We must be on guard and we must fully realize our responsibility. (Approval.) When a few days ago I had the opportunity of introducing myself as the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Hungary, I said that I could not say and could not promise anything more than that I felt the full weight of responsibility and that I was a Magyar. In the present situation when the whole nation and every one of its responsible factors must deal with this question, everyone is bound to feel his full responsibility not only toward today but also toward tomorrow; he is bound to feel also that he is a Magyar and that these two factors will form the foundation of our actions, our considered, sober and patriotic conduct. Allow me, please, to address an appeal to you and please do not regard it as a reprimand. Let us today forget parties (Approval), let us forget classes, let us see no difference between Magyar and Magyar, (Lively approval.) not even when our hearts bind us to different parts of this country. I think if in the manner usual in collections when everyone is called upon to give of his own accord but one penny, every person in Hungary could give up one pennyworth of selfishness, then I believe out of these small unselfishnesses, we could build up that force by which, combined with sober consideration, we shall manage to weather this hard time and earn the gratitude of future generations. Let us sacrifice every personal ambition and we shall reach the goal. (Approval.) I trust that if we continue working in the spirit in which Count Albert Apponyi accepted the chairmanship of our Peace Delegation (Cheers), not in the spirit of begging for life but in