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

Documents

1920 799 No. 839. 8167/poL The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Count Emeric Csáky, to the Minister of Hungary to the Vatican, Count Somssich. [TRANSLATION) Code telegrams Nos. 35-36. BUDAPEST, December 2, 1920. With reference to your code telegrams Nos. 56

1 and 57.* Bishop Batthyány made to me the following statement: „I have not resigned my post as bishop of Nyitra. When I visited the office of the Papal Nuncio in Vienna, we discussed whether I should hold on to the bishopric of Nyitra, or should seek a post in Rome or, in the alternative, pose my candidature for the bishopric of Vác which was at the moment vacant. Since we could not decide the best solution, Micara suggested that we should leave the decision to the Holy Father

3; he submitted to me an Italian letter to this effect which I signed. I have not and do not regard this letter, however, as my resignation. Moreover, neither the Nuncio's office, nor Rome regarded my willingness to leave the decision to His Holiness as my resignation: 1. When I was expelled from Nyitra, I reported to the Nuncio's office in Vienna that the Czechs made large promises if I would resign and asked the Nuncio's advice. He replied that under no conditions should I resign, for that would embarrass the Holy See in its dealings with the Czech Government. 2. When I later reported to the Nuncio's office that the Hungarian Government would save me further embarrassments by transferring me to the bishopric of Vác, I was again advised that I ought not to resign the bishopric of Nyitra because I should not embarrass the Holy See by creating a vacancy there. This was, then, the position of the Holy See as late as May last. I have received since no request, not even an intimation, that I offer my resignation. On the contrary, the Prince Primate,

4 the bishops of Veszprém

5 and Vác

6 all came back from Rome with the advice that we hold out and with the assurance that the Holy See would make no 1 Supra, Doc. No. 830. 2 Supra, Doc. No. 835. 9 Benedict XV. 4 Csernoch. 4 Rott. 6 Hanauer.