Papers and Documents relating to the Foreign Relations of Hungary, Volume 2, 1921 (Budapest, 1946)
Documents
12 1921 ward restoration in Greece and asked Count Sforza point-blank what would be Italy's attitude in case Hungary nevertheless elected a Habsburg. Count Sforza replied as follows : "l'empereur Charles jamais!" He explained that in his opinion King Charles would never renounce his other rights, particularly the right to the Austrian Imperial crown. In his opinion the desire to re-establish the former monarchy was so strong a tradition of the Habsburg family that renunciation thereof could not be expected from any Habsburg. I did not discuss this point, but called his attention to the dangers of a civil war which might result if Hungary were forced to elect a Hungarian to the throne, excluding the Habsburgs. I also pointed out that the invitation of a foreign prince to the Hungarian throne js inconceivable. My arguments obviously had some effect on Count Sforza; as far as the last point is concerned, he remarked that if the crown of Hungary was offered to an Italian prince, he himself would oppose its acceptance. Count Sforza did not bring forward any argument in refutation of my analysis of the situation, and he concluded our conversation by the suggestion that I myself had made to him repeatedly, namely, that the question is not acute. He expressed the belief that the Hungarian Government was acting wisely in adopting a position of watchful waiting. "There are many, more acute questions of international politics", concluded Count Sforza, "awaiting solution, so that it is not necessary to say the last word in this question to-day". 1 No. 6. 57/pol. The Representative of the Hungarian Government with the Interallied Military Mission in Sopron, Baron Villani, to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Count Teleki. The Mission here has learned of the note of the Conference of Ambassadors 2 from the Vienna papers. The French Captain 3 Code telegram No. 2. [TRANSLATION] SOPRON, January 4, 1921. 1 Cf. infra, Doc. No, 259. 2 Vol. I, Doc. No. 879. 3 Redon.
