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

Documents

1920 475 with the Russian Soviet Government, and that the escape of Béla Kun is connected with this agreement. By promoting Béla Kun's escape the intention was not merely to free him, but to make it possible for Kun to organize Hungarian bolsheviks in Russia into an army which would operate against Hungary. According to my information the Allied missions in Vienna have knowledge of this affair and it is believed that they have already made representations to the Austrian Government. It is specifically alleged that Sir William Goode notified Dr. Schüller, Department Head in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, that the Allied Powers will stop credits and supplies for Austria. I learned from the same source that the Allied Powers are beginning to realize the extent of the bolshevik danger and that they are more and more inclined to substitute for the difference of opinion which has heretofore characterized their policies a concerted action, looking toward a unified anti-bolshevik front. This seems to be indicated by the rumour that, in disregard of the agreement recently reached in Spa, Germany will be given permission to establish an army of.some 500,000 men. I inquired whether the Allied Powers contemplate the inclusion of Hungary in this anti-bolshevik front, but I could get no information on this point. I also called on the French and British High Commissioners in Vienna to obtain further information concerning this question. Mr. Lefèvre-Pontalis was notified about the matter while I was visiting him and he could not give me any additional information. Mr. Lindley, also, already had knowledge of the matter, but he expressed doubt whether there is in reality a secret agreement; he believes that the agreement involved is the convention concerning prisoners of war about which I have already reported. Mr. Lindley informed me confidentially that he has not yet received any instructions from his Government concerning this matter but, in his opinion, the agreement, which goes far beyond an ordinary convention concerning prisoners of war, is in itself sufficient to justify anxiety and that the Austrian Government is precluded from assuming the obligation contained therein by provisions of the St. Germain Treaty. From Mr. Lindley's remarks I gained the impression that the informtion according to which Sir William Goode made the representations above referred