Papers and Documents relating to the Foreign Relations of Hungary, Volume 1, 1919–1920 (Budapest, 1939)

Documents

4i8 1920 us in English political circles but no tangible evidence of support. In the economic field, our experts who visited London came back with the impression that the only British interest is in the Danube river but they care mighty little about anything more than a few feet from its banks. Lindley replied that he was fairly well informed about our negotiations with the French. He doubts that these negotiations can lead to concrete results. Politically, the French are not in a position to fulfill any promises, — e. g., concerning frontiers — which they may have made. Economically, the lease of the railroads is a question about which the Reparation Commission has something to say and he doubts whether it would approve the lease. I pointed out that we would regard as a political advantage the assurance that the French representatives on the various inter-allied commissions to be created in pursuance of the peace treaty would use their influence to eliminate economic and other injustices imposed on us by that treaty. In this respect, the French gave us assurances going further than those given us by anyone else. The leasing of our railroads would doubtless be a heavy sacrifice on our part; but it should not be forgotten that we may not be able to avoid this sacrifice in any event since we will need foreign capital for the reconstruction of the railroads and for other economic purposes. Up to now, the French alone have shown willingness to extend the necessary foreign capital. In connection with the liquidation of branches of business enterprises situated on the territories detached from Hungary, we also need the cooperation of one or the other of the Allied Powers ; in this respect we find again that the French alone are willing to extend to us the required cooperation. We do not particularly cherish the idea of giving a single nation complete monopoly in Hungary but as long as France has no competitor, and we see no inclination on the part of any other Power to give us the needed support, we will be compelled to continue on this road despite the fact that the idea of a close rapprochement with France is not very popular in Hungary. Mr. Lindley listened to my explanations carefully but he took no definite position concerning the merits of my arguments. He thought about it for some time and then stated repeatedly that he was at a loss as to what to reply. Finally, he asked me to