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

Appendix III. Parliamentary debates

1. Excerpts from the Minutes of the National Assembly, 35th Meeting, April 26, 1920. Records of the National Assembly, vol. 2, pp. 299 ff. The Speaker: The Minister for Foreign Affairs wishes to address the House. (Hear ! Hear !) Count Paul Teleki, Minister for Foreign Affairs: Honourable House ! (Hear ! Hear !) In addressing the House for the first time in the capacity of Foreign Minister, I fear that many statements are expected from me which cannot be made by one who regards with seriousness our relations with other states ; nor can hopes be held out such as are doubtless expected. In endeavouring to appraise the situation in which we now are and the conditions of the world, we must allow ourselves a certain perspective. I do not think it right for us to live just for the present and to be guided solely by current events. We are emerging from a major convulsion of almost six years' duration; I almost said we were at the end of a convulsion which turned everything upside down, which destroyed old or imaginary forces while liberating new or latent forces and bringing into play forces hitherto unknown, thus turning the course of the whole world in a new direction. However, we have not yet reached the end; we are still in the midst of it. If we look deeper into the matter, we see that these liberated forces are so great, so mighty, that it is beyond human power to deal with them. Recall the World War and consider the peace. Did this last war, like previous ones, have outstanding commanders? There were indeed eminent strategists, but of outstanding, powerful personalities who could make felt their own individual leadership, there were none. Were there statesmen, either in the war or in the peace, who could have supplied such leadership? There were none. None, because the forces which the war conjured up were too great to be controlled. (True !