Századok – 1937

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

[65] BE ACONSFIELD ÜGYNÖKÉNEK JELENTÉSEI. 81 The second is gaining ground among those who still acknowledge Mr. Tisza's leadership. The Prime Minister is naturally cold, próud, and reserved. He has done nothing to conciliate the Deputies, but much to ruffle and offend them. He is overbearing and tyrannical in his demeanour, harsh and bitter in his language. No one likes, and many fear him. He has never had the personal popularity enjoyed by Count Andrassy, nor even seemed to care to acquire it by the cultivation of Parliamentary and social amenities. Nevertheless, if he continues in office the General Election, due in the late summer, must result in the consolidation of his Parliamentary majority ; the Government in power having at their command the means of influencing the election in many of the small constituencies. In regard to the composition of the new Party I now learn that the lead is to be taken by Mr. Bitto, who was for some time Prime Minister ; and who was only deprived of office by the collapse of the old Deak Party, and the coalition which some of its members formed with the adherents of Mr. Tisza. Mr. Bitto is not a man of great originality, but he has a reputation for honesty and good sense which causes him to be generally respected. The Party designate him as Premier in the event of their success. Count Lonyay who succeeded Count Andrassy as Hungarian Premier in 1871, and Mr.Kerkapolyi his Finance Minister, have now become members of the coalition, Count Albert Apponyi and Mr. Herményi, both eloquent orators, and the acknowledged leaders of the Conservatives, and Mr. Ernest Simonyi of the moderate Left together with Baron Louis Simonyi, formerly a ministerial colleague of Mr. Tisza's, have all taken an active part in the formation of the Party, which is thus not without the elements necessary to form a Government. In view of the critical condition of Foreign Affairs, the "United Opposition" is impatiently anxious to turn out Mr. Tisza without loss of time ; and the occasion to be selected for a trial of strength is engaging their urgent attention. As far as I am informed they have arrived at the conclusion that such an occasion should be sought upon any other question rather than that of foreign policy. The negotiations in progress respecting the renewal of the Pact seem to afford a good chance for a Parliamentary engagement. The United Opposition object in principle to its renewal for ten years, and also to many of the modifications proposed by the Government. They argue especially that to raise the question of a new arrangement with Austria every ten years adds greater and unnecessary difficulties to the working of the Dual System. They propose the prolongation of the present provisional arrangements for two years, in order to allow time for mature reflection as to the nature of new conditions as well as for the settlement of the Eastern Question. And then the conclusion of a Pact for twenty five years — a period sufficiently long to give the system a fair working trial, which they maintain cannot be afforded by one limited to ten years. The Ministers on their side are pressing forward the negotiations for the immediate renewal of the Pact, under the urgent instigation of Count Andrassy, who does not fail to point out that as long as these domestic difficulties remain unsettled he is hampered in the conduct of the Foreign Policy of the Empire. Some weeks before the formal act of Fusion the various groups composing the new Opposition Party did match their strength against the Government. They were beaten by 26 votes, in a comparatively full house ; and they hope that further defections from