Századok – 1937

Pótfüzet - HEGEDÜS LORÁNT: Lord Beaconsfield politikai ügynökének jelentései gróf Andrássy Gyula és Tisza Kálmán politikájáról a keleti válság idejében 576–616

590 HEGEDŰS bORÁNT. [62] sought interviews with him, and witli M. Stourdza, and had employed similar language. On the whole he was quite satisfied with the result of his mission to Hungary. M. Stourdza begged me to draw Your Excellency's special attention to the news he had received this morning from an official source at Bucharest, to the effect that Russia intended proceeding to the immediate introduction of her own civil officials into Moldavian Bessarabia. In answer to my enquiry as to what the existing local authorities would do in such a case, he said that Prince Charles's Government had instructed them to allow themselves to be expelled under protest. I have the honour etc. No. 14. Buda Pesth, March 26, 1878. (Confidential.) Sir, With reference to my preceding Despatch No. 13 of this date respecting the opinion formed by the Roumanian Agents as to the disposition of the Hungarians to take an active part in a War against Russia, I think it as well to state that, while I have the best reasons for believing that that disposition is very strong among tho middle and lower classes of the Magyars throughout the Country, I am by no means persuaded that it is shared by M. Tisza and his immediate supporters. Three years of power have apparently in no way wearied or disgusted the Prime Minister with its exercise ; and from having been formerly the opponent of Count Andrassy, he has become His Excellency's intimate confidant and friend. M. Tisza seems to think that an acquiescence in Count Andrassy's foreign policy will maintain himself at the head of the Government ; and to be convinced that he still retains ascendancy over a sufficient number of the Deputies to give him a majority in the Chamber against any combination of the various fractions of the opposition. I imagine that the Premier's personal influence over the Deputies, continues to be very great ; and that a very large number of them have allowed themselves to be persuaded, against their own convictions, that they have nothing better to do than to remain steady supporters of their old Chief. It must not be forgotten that Hungary is sparsely populated, that means of communication in the rural districts are scanty and ill conducted ; — that the few large towns which exist are widely scattered ; —• and that physical and ethnic obstacles stand in the way of political cohesion. On these accounts the Deputies of the Lower House of the Diet are far less amenable to the influence of their Constituencies than is the case in most other Countries enjoying a constitutional representative system ; and the result is that the Members of the Hungarian Parliament are rather the controllers than the representatives of public opinion in their electoral Districts, especially in those which are purely rural. Feeling less responsibility towards their constituents the Deputies are the more subject to Government influence ; and no trouble has been spared by the Ministry to keep its supporters in a docile and tractable mood. The Hungarian temperament, so susceptible to the persuasive arguments of ambition, has been flattered by visions of a largely increased Empire, in which tributary provinces shall be subject to Magyar domination. Members of old and titled, but now im-