Levéltári Közlemények, 39. (1968)

Levéltári Közlemények, 39. (1968) 2. - FORRÁSKÖZLÉS - Karsai Elek: A brit–magyar diplomáciai érintkezés történetéhez a polgári demokratikus forradalom idején / 313–325. o.

A brit—magyar diplomáciai érintkezés történetéhez 321 There is some sort of a Government in the Country but they have not got the country behind them. The members are mostly Jews with no status. They dare not move a finger lest the Council of Workmen and soldiers should turn them out. The Army demobilised itself and the 8 divisions allowed them by the terms of the Armistice are not in existence. In the event of any serious disturbance happening the Government are powerless to keep order as they have no organised force to depend upon. There is no telling what would happen then. The workmen in Budapest and the peasantry are armed. As the Army was not demobilised the Authorities could not collect all the arms and ammunition; as a result of this there are thousands of rifles all over the country with a very large number of machine guns. The German soldiers of Mackenzen's Army also sold their arms to the peasantry. The cause of discontent 6c the ensuing unrest is economic rather than political. Food is very dear and scarce, clothes are beyond the reach of the poor people. There is enough food in the country for the whole of the population but the industrial and commercial life of Hungary is almost at a standstill and the distribution of food is very bad. I do not think that the Bolsheviks really mean business on the Russian lines. In my opinion the workmen will only resort to brigandage if they are driven to it by famine. The scarcity of coal has forced 50°/o of the factories to close down and reduced the output of the others considerably. There are hundreds of thousands of workmen idle. The Government passed a decree some time ago according to which all persons whohad no work would be given between 15 and 20 Crowns a day. The effect of this decree was deplorable, aá nobody wants to work now. In the country conditions are even worse — a targe portion of this year's harvest has not been gathered: potatoes, beet, etc., remained in the ground, immense quantities of maize have not been brought in. Famine thus stares everyonein the face and revolution will follow as a consequence. The whole force including the police which the government possess to enforce order total 23,000 men. They admit that they cannot trust these men as Communistic and Bolshevik doctrines have spread among them. There is no discipline ín the Army and the men obey their officers only when it suits them to do so. The trouble, when it comes, will be directed mainly against the moneyed classes — the rich landowners and the Jews. The latter number 500,000 in Budapest alone. The movement as a whole is not directed against foreigners. The American and British are not disliked. The French on the other hand are not liked, owing to the fact that their Colonial troops which occupy part of the country have behaved rather badly, I am given to understand. I have made arrangements in conjunction with the Spanish Consul for the embarkation of the Allied subjects in case of a Revolution breaking out. The situation may be summed up thus: — There is a real danger of an outbreak in Hungary, in Budapest especially. The present state of unrest among the workmen and peasants alike is due to the very high cost of living, scarcity of clothes and lack of work. The output of coal which is available is not sufficient to keep the factories, railways etc., going. The Bolshevics are not Bolshevics in the real meaning of the term. There are a few leaders who profess Communist and Bolshevic doctrines but the mass of the people are a rabble without much in them. They are a discontented crowd who would welcome the return of normal conditions, if circumstances and a Government worthy of the name could get the country out of the rut in which it has fallen. This government does not exist here. The Majority of the Ministers are a lot of upstarts, men who know nothing and have no idea as to how a country ought to be run. They are simply driving the whole nation to ruin and disaster. (signed) J. G. L. Pommerol British MissionBudapest. Háromoldalas gépelt másolat. — PRO FO 371. Austria—Hungary 1919. — f. 1193— 28506. — A másolatot a Katonai Felderítőszolgálat igazgatója 1919. február 18-án küldte meg a helyettes külügyi államtitkárnak. Az ügyirat borítólapján áz alábbi megjegyzés olvasható: The position is really very bad, but it is for the French who are on the spot to take measures. Mr. . letter is all very well, but I don't think that the average Magyar bother?

J Germany contre sa volonté. I assume the despatches are communicated to the P. D.