Levéltári Közlemények, 39. (1968)

Levéltári Közlemények, 39. (1968) 1. - FORRÁSKÖZLÉS - Karsai Elek: Brit diplomáciai iratok az 1921. évi húsvéti királypuccs történetéhez / 105–139. o.

122 Karsai Elek Kivonat: Benes telefonon közölte: figyelmeztette a magyar kormányt, hogy ha nem teszi meg a szükséges intézkedéseket Károly kiűzésére, a csehszlovák kormány megfelelő rendszabályokat foganatosít. Benes ugyanakkor kérte a jugoszláv, a román és az olasz kormányt hasonló lépés megtételére. Benes sem határidőt nem kötött ki, sem a javasolt rendszabályokat nem jelölte meg, minthogy „úgy hiszi, hogy a magyar kormány teljesen ártatlan a király látogatásában, de Pozsony környékén csapatösszevonásokat és a kapcsolatok megszakítását tervezi, és reméli, hogy ezen lépéshez Románia és Jugoszlávia is csatlakozik". Véleménye szerint a magyar kormány boldog lesz, ha ürügyet talál, hogy szorgalmazza a király azonnali távozását az országból. Clerk, bár elismeri Benes eljárásának helyességét, tart attól, hogy ezt a magyarok illetéktelen beavatkozásnak tekintik és felszítja a nacionalista érzelmeket. Benes egyébként javasolja: kérdezzék meg a svájci kormányt, mi módon tudott az exuralkodó Svájcból eltávozni. Benes nem tartja a helyzetet komolynak, de azért bizonyos mértékig tart a szomszédos országokban keltett hatásától, és ezért cselekedett a fenti módon. 13 a. London, 1921. március 31. Mr. Strutt feljegyzése a Foreign Office számára a királypuccs előzményeiről CONFIDENTIAL On February 19th last, while staying at St. Moritz, I received a telephone message to expect „some one" by the afternoon train on the following day. I accordingly proceeded to the station at 15.00 hours on February 20, and met Commander Schonta von Seedanck, A. D. C. to the Emperor Karl. He brought me à verbal message from the Emperor begging me to come to Prangins at once. Schonta had no idea what I was wanted for and asked me not to speak of his (Schonta's) presence at St. Moritz to the Archduke Max who had also been spending the winter there and with whom I happened to be dining that night. Schonta and I started the next morning, February 21, by the same train but in different compartements. We arrived at Lausanne at 20.15 and while Schonta proceeded direct by car to Prangins I slept the night at Lausanne as Prangins was quite full of doctors and near relations owing to the approaching confinement of the Empress Zita. I went to Glend next morning, February 22, and was met by car and driven to Prangins. The Emperor met me just inside the park and we walked to a clearing in the park — so as not to be overheard — and conversed for over two hours. The Emperor said that he had sent for me to ask for my advice and assistance in an absolutely secret matter which I was not even to mention to the Empress. He stated that on February 19 he had heard from Prince Sixte in Paris that Monsieur Briand had been to see him (Sixte) and had stated that „if the Emperor went back to Hungary and proclaimed himself King — thus showing a „fait accompli" — neither France nor Great Britain would make the slightest opposition. Briand had added that the move should take place at once and not later than March 15—30; the Emperor must throw off his lethargy. The Emperor asked for my advice as to whether he should start or not, but he gave the impression that he intended to move whatever I might say. I tried all the obvious arguments against a move at this moment, including the certain opposition of the Little Entente. He replied that only Czecho-Slovakia would give trouble. He appeared certain that Hungary and Horthy wanted him back and stated that Horthy was only keeping the throne warm for him. He requested me to proceed to Paris, interview Prince Sixte and confirm the Briand statement. I agreed and asked him to allow me to go to London and if possible interview the Prime Minister as well. He refused. I lunched with the Emperor and Empress (Present at lunch: Archduchess Marie Josef a, Archduchess Marie Theresia, Duchess of Parma, Princess Isabella de Bourbon Parma, Colonel Count Ledohoffski, Chamberlain). I went for a walk of 1 1

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2 hours with the Empress afterwards, she was in great spirits but mentioned nothing about the Family's future. I then proceeded by car to Lausanne, picked up my bag, and left by night train via Frasner to Paris. I called — the next day, February 23, on Prince Sixte at 47 Rue de Varenne and he