Papers and Documents relating to the Foreign Relations of Hungary, Volume 2, 1921 (Budapest, 1946)

Documents

192 1921 the same time, I observed that the papers here had certainly published a distorted version of his speech; whereupon he admitted the difficult position of our Government. The Rumanian occupation was, according to him, a great mistake. Other mistakes were also made, he said. He knows that as a consequence impulsive persons are making difficulties for the Government and if it were possible Hungary would take back the lost territories by force of arms. But that is an impossibility to-day. We are between three fires. In less than a week they would be in Budapest. And what would happen then? Thus the Little Entente acts as a brake on Hungary because it is used to reduce sanguine hopes. Count Apponyi intends to go to the United States. He will accomplish nothing. Great Powers always give high-sounding promises but they never keep them. In my reply, I expressed the difficult position of my Government on account of the refugees. In spite of that we are absolutely loyal. Diplomatic relations having been restored, there is now opportunity for a direct exchange of views which ought to show results if good will is mutual. The situation is, in that respect, easier for the Rumanian Government because it does not have to contend with public opinion. Our Foreign Minister is peacefully inclined and he is an excellent economist. He bases his policy on an economic foundation. Our aim is the development of economic relations and that is also the principal interest of Rumania. Turning to the Bolshevik question, he said that he plans to send a representative to Reval. He does not believe that the Russians will attack in the spring, though one can never rely on the Bolsheviks. Finally he repeated that as long as he controlled foreign policy, they would not make themselves unpleasant. What the distant future will bring we cannot tell, but to-day we have to discover the means of cooperation. The formalities of my reception were cordial.

1 1 Cf. infra, Doc. No. 173. /