Papers and Documents relating to the Foreign Relations of Hungary, Volume 2, 1921 (Budapest, 1946)

Documents

IOO 1921 ground must be prepared. There were, he said, two ways by which better relations between the two countries could be established. Either we could start from the top, by settling the political issues; or we might first build a foundation by economic concessions which would create a better atmosphere and facilitate the solution of political problems. He had followed the latter method with Austria and Poland and asked whether this would not be the proper modus procedendi with Hungary also. Fearing that this was merely a subterfuge, I pointed out that Hungary was an agricultural country where commercial interests do not overshadow political considerations and, therefore, economic concessions without the satisfactory solution of some political claims would not greatly impress the general public. I saw a hope only if the economic and political negotiations were conducted simultaneously and if there were to be some assurance of a reasonable settlement of territorial questions. Dr. Scheu interrupted, saying that, in his opinion also, better relations with Hungary were inconceivable without territorial concessions. Mr. Benes said that it would be impossible to engage in negotiations directed solely towards territorial concessions. In view of Hungarian public opinion, it might be necessary to define the agenda of economic negotiations broadly so as to include political issues as well. Territorial concessions could only form part of a

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,comprehensive settlement. He could at present make no statement concerning territorial concessions, for this would cause much agitation among the public; he would be compelled to make denials which would retard progress. He continued by saying that the Hungarian statesmen had not yet realized that times had changed and that there was another spirit in Europe. They talked only about Hungary's territorial integrity; it was, therefore, difficult to negotiate with them. Numerous declarations regarding territorial integrity were made by men like Apponyi, Andrássy, even by Bethlen, Others knew so little about' the situation that they asserted that Czechs and Slovaks did not understand each other and had to converse in German. He admitted that statesmen cannot always be logical. For example, he himself twelve years ago wrote a book with President Masaryk, advocating the maintenance of Austria-Hungary. After the outbreak of the War, he changed his mind, went to