Paris Peace Conf. 184.011102/109: Telegram
Mr. Albert Halstead to the Commission to Negotiate Peace
[Received July 7—10 a.m.]
554. The Government of German-Austria as first step toward overthrowing the Bela Kun Government and restoring order in Hungary should be compelled to send the Hungarian so-called Ambassador and his agents and other co-plotters from Vienna. The Government should be required to refuse to receive any representative of the Bela Kun Government.
The telegraphic news of this mission on Friday10 furnished an abstract of an official report of the police head of Vienna showing step by step the activity of the Hungarian Government. This document published in Neue Tag was admitted by Elderich [?], Minister of the Interior, to be genuine. He said he could not take action and has been criticized by lovers of order for his policies. In justice one must note that Elderich did yield to the police appeal and arrest 150 Communist leaders on June 14th so as to prevent the success of their coup. The rioting on June 15th followed and order was preserved. The Government of German-Austria despite the indisputable evidence that the Communists here are active and receive full support Bela Kun through his Ambassador here was too spineless to do anything. Some of its members were theoretical Communists without courage of conviction and one, Deutsch, Minister of War, willing to admit the Hungarian armies into Austria. In such circumstances and without support it would be too much to expect Erdlich [?] to have acted though conclusive proofs of Hungarian Bolshevik plotting were at hand. Today the Neue Tag, which though sensational is doing really patriotic work, publishes the Hungarian plan for seizing Vienna, gives details as to forces and artillery available and map showing where artillery is to be stationed in proving that preparations have been made to take the city. The News Telegraph today will give some abstract of this view.
[Page 539]The Hungarian Ambassador remains untouched. Hesitation, lack of moral courage and sympathy with Bolshevism combine to make the Cabinet shirk its real duty. The delay in action paralyzes business, breeds hopelessness and strengthens communism. The flow of communistic money continues from Hungary and without [unless?] steps are taken with firmness and with speed Vienna will be the scene of bloodshed and possibly the prize of the Bolsheviki.
Having so frequently expressed my opinion of the danger threatening German-Austria and from here certainly spreading to neighboring countries and inevitably infecting all Europe that I fear I may be regarded as an alarmist, but never in my life have I viewed a situation with greater calmness and I have sought to use year’s experience as an observer both as journalist and consular officer to get the truth. Russia has been permitted to work her own salvation and the rude and brutal dictatorship that destroys all the intelligent is not weakened. Hungary has for about 3 months been permitted to defy the Entente powers and her army is stronger than ever. Further delay cannot be permitted if Europe is not [to] become entirely Bolshevik. The men throughout Europe now supporting civilization are losing courage because they lack support from the Allies and their associates who they believe dare not use force because their own people are sympathetic with the new theories. Without military action most of the benefits of the war will have been lost, the only remedy is to overthrow Hungarian Bolshevism by force and force the expulsion of the Bolshevik agents in German-Austria. Without such action the future of the old empire can only be disorder and rioting. There is no alternative. But military measures must be accompanied by sympathetic control until Hungary can unite her opposing elements. The peace treaty affecting her must afford her opportunity to rebuild herself. She with German-Austria need help that guides and does not unduly punish, that encourages and does not inculcate despair.
- Telegram No. 543, July 4, 3:40 p.m., not printed.↩