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

Documents

1921 il uation. He informed me that he had instructed the Italian representative in Paris

1 to move for the recall or dissolution of the military and other Allied missions still functioning in Hungary which are now superfluous. I already reported this to Your Excellency by telegram.

2 The Minister spoke warmly about the deep sympathy*! of the Italians toward the Hungarians and about his own endeav- ' ours to help Hungary. I thanked the Minister and told him that I would report to Your Excellency at once about his instructions to the Italian representative in Paris. Count Sforza told me that certain European Governments are determined to promote the establishment of a republican form of government in Hungary. He himself is emphatically opposed to such plans because he is convinced that the Hungarians prefer the monarchical form of government. Italy has the best intentions towards Hungary and will endeavour to assist her in maintaining the form of government which the Hungarian people desire. In thanking Count Sforza for his assurances, I asked him whether by "certain" Governments he meant any of the Allied Powers or whether he referred to our neighbours. Count Sforza replied that the latter was the case and on further inquiry he designated Czechoslovakia, remarking that Yugoslavia was not among these Governments. Thereafter Count Sforza suddenly began to discuss the question of the throne, which gave me an opportunity to explain to him my views as outlined in my report No. 451

/pol. of December 22, 1920.

3 At the beginning of this part of the discussion Count Sforza declared that Italy wanted to give Hungary a free hand in electing her King provided that no member of the Habsburg family was elected. In this latter respect he is bound by "treaties" compelling him to oppose the election of a Habsburg. I remarked that as far as I knew the Peace Treaty did not exclude the return of the Habsburgs to the Hungarian throne. Count Sforza replied that he did not refer to the Peace Treaty but to Italy's understandings with the other Allied Powers, all of which are opposed to the return of the Habsburgs. I pointed out the policy followed by Italy to1 Bonin-Longare. 2 Not printed. 3 Not printed.