Levéltári Közlemények, 39. (1968)
Levéltári Közlemények, 39. (1968) 1. - FORRÁSKÖZLÉS - Karsai Elek: Brit diplomáciai iratok az 1921. évi húsvéti királypuccs történetéhez / 105–139. o.
Brit diplomáciai iratok az 1921. évi húsvéti királypuccs történetéhez 123 vondirmed the whole Briand story, adding that his (Sixte's) great friend Maréchal Lyautey was present at the interview '•— and was more anxious that the coup d'état should be brought off as soon as possible. Briand had stated to Prince Sixte on February 14 that the Italian Government was trying to marry the half witted son of the Archduke Joseph to Princess Jolanda of Italy and then proclaim a joint Italian-Hapsburg dynasty over Hungary — all this „pour embêter les Serbes." If the Emperor Karl, added Briand, returns now and seizes the throne, we shall have a faithful ally to France and Great Britain as well as a French Princess as King and Queen of Hungary. Doubtless, Austria will soon follow their banner. Now is the time for the Emperor to show all the energy he may possess. Sixte was enthusiastic about the whole scheme and laughed at difficulties; he said Prince Xavier would accompany the Emperor. The only difficulties would be a passport to leave Switzerland but that could be procured. Sixte asked me to try and cross the AustrianSwiss frontier at Martinsbriick, Lower Engadine, without showing any passport. As this suited a long Standing engagement of mine to meet Count Czernin at Landeck, I consented. I had already obtained a Swiss-Austrian visa. I saw Sixte again in the evening and received from him (I believe) a passport for the Emperor. I returned to St. Moritz that night arriving there on the evening of February 24. On the 25th I happened to meet the Archduke Max and his wife and he asked me whether rumours of a move by his brother — apparently started by a Swiss — were true. I stated that I had heard something of them. Max then showed the greatest consternation and implored me, if there was any truth in the story to stop the journey. He added that all the omens were unfavourable and that the coup d'état was bound to fail. He then asked me pointblank, before the Archduchess, whether, in the event of the journey being attempted, I intended to accompany the Emperor. I assured him that it was impossible for me as a British officer to accompany the Emperor. Max and his wife appeared greatly relieved and seemed to think that the Emperor would now give up the idea. I left St. Moritz on February 26 by train to Tanasp, and thence arrived by sleigh at Remiis. Whith a letter from a friend in my pocket betting me 5000 frs. that I could not cross the frontier without showing my passport, I left the inn at 21.00 hours on foot and crossed the frontier by the steep rocks above the left bank of the river Sun. I duly returned by the same route approximately at 05.30. I met no one but of course used no path. The journey was most unpleasant in the dark and suited only for a practised mountaineer. At 09.00 on the same morning, Feb. 27, I started in a sleigh, crossed the frontier with no trouble as regards the officials and arrived at Landeck at 16.30. February 27 and 28 and March 1 were spent at Landeck with Count Ottokár Czernin. He gave much information about a projected, „non-monarchist" coup d'état by his friends in Austria. All this information has been given by me to Mr. Cadogan and to Mr. Lindley. Czernin has promised me to notify Lindley before a move, if any, takes place. I returned to Switzerland via Buchs on March 2 and slept at Zürich where I again ran into the Archduke Max and we left together for Berne on March 3, where the Archduke now lives. On March 4 I went to Geneva, breaking the journey at Prangins. I handes over Prince Sixte's letter to the Emperor and pointed out to him the difficulties of my journey to Austria. He appeared quite determined to start. I mentioned the Italia intrigue in Hungary knowing that he would believe nothing against Josef. The Emperor absolutely refused to believe „in my dear friend, Josef's treason". I then asked him „where the hurry now was" and did my utmost to prevent him starting for another year at least. The remarks about „aparthy" etc. appeared to rankle; he was adamant. He begged me to take a letter home to the King to assure H. M. that his, Karl's friendship for the Entente was profound and that the move was only to save his own country and the throne which he had never abdicated. This letter was to be handed to the King after the arrival in Hungary. I requested the Emperor not to give me this letter but to hand it to Mr. Hohler at Budapest. He then said that he entrusted the Empress and his family to my care and begged me to do all I could for them. I promised gladly. He preferred not to teli me the date of his departure or the route, but thought it would be either via Simplon —Venice — Tarvis —Neu-Kirchen —Hungary, or via Bavaria, Passau, Linz—Vienna. I gathered that counts Erdoedy and Hunyady are concerned. The former is somewhat mad and the latter is unlikely to be „a la hauteur de ses fonctions". I saw the Emperor again on March 6 when he bade me a more affectionate farewell
