Paris Peace Conf. 184.011102/132
Captain Bernath Weiss 69 to Mr. Albert Halstead 70
Subject: Conditions in Hungary.
Interview with Bela Kun.
In this interview Bela Kun showed that he is as confident as ever of retaining the present form of government, even though he admits that a large part of the farmers, who own their land, are positively against the present form of government, as well as all of the bourgeoisie, but he insists that the farm hands, especially of the cooperative farms, and also the Socialists are in favor and support the present government. According to his statement about six to seven million acres of land are being tilled by these farm hands, who do their best to produce large crops. He stated that he hoped in this way to get his supplies for Budapest and other cities so he could be independent of the small farmers. When asked how he would take care of the sick and protect the health of the children this coming winter in view of the coal shortage, he answered that the Entente may change its policy and lift the blockade thus allowing Hungary to get the necessary supplies. I then asked him “if the allies do not raise the blockade, what then?” His answer was that under any circumstances they would be able to survive for at least a year or year and one-half in spite of all blockades. He hopes that in a few months time Germany and Czecho-Slovakia will turn Bolshevik, when Russia, Germany, Hungary and Czecho-Slovakia will form an Entente of their own, and exist as such until the rest of Europe joins them. In other words, he is just as confident today, in spite of all the revolutionary movements, as he ever was.
Upon asking him concerning conditions in Russia, he answered that naturally conditions are far better and consolidated than in Hungary, [Page 607] since they had started so much earlier. He further stated that by the time Hungary becomes consolidated, America will be in the same condition as Hungary is today.
Conditions in Hungary.
As one passes through the country districts he sees the crops ripening, but not being cut, and there is great danger that even after being cut it cannot be threshed due to the shortage of coal. The country seems to be fairly well supplied with food, in fact there is a surplus, but the peasants refuse to give up any food for Budapest. This is due to the fact that they do not sympathize with the present form of government, and refuse to accept the white or Bolshevik money, which is not accepted in any other country. It also seems that the farmers have plenty of money on hand, but cannot buy anything for it as there is no commerce at all, which displeases them.
In different parts of the country there are sporadical out-breaks of counter-revolutions, one suppressed and the other commences. On these occasions terror troops are sent to suppress the counter-revolution and after suppressed a number of the leaders are hanged, the town stripped of all cattle which are sent to Budapest, by which means the city is being nourished. In addition to this the town is assessed for sums from five to ten million kronen, which is to be paid in blue money within twenty-four to forty-eight hours, in case of failure the life of a number of citizens is forfeited. These cases are so numerous that it makes it unnecessary to mention the time and places. Eleven of the leaders of the last counter-revolution were sentenced to be shot, but so far this sentence has not been carried out.
The Red Army.
In order to accomplish the desired end in the last offensive against the Czecho-Slovaks, the soldiers were allowed to carry the tri-color, and in this way the soldiers’ national spirit was aroused, and they put up a good fight and succeeded. No sooner than the fight was over and the army had to withdraw by orders of the Entente, the tri-color was replaced by the red flag. This caused much dissatisfaction among the troops, and one of their political leaders named Landler made repeated requests to Commander Boehm for the replacement of the red flag by the red, white and green. This, however, was not done. The soldiers being disappointed, partly by this act, and partly by the fact that they received letters from their families, saying that they are hungry and suffering at home, and to a great extent to the influence of propaganda employed by the white guard. Many units returned from the front of their own free will. The government being afraid to have these troops armed, they placed machine guns on either side of the railroad tracks in the vicinity of Budapest which were manned by Bolshevik troops, and in this manner disarmed the returning [Page 608] troops. The discipline is declining from day to day, and the army is falling to pieces. According to some reports in order to keep the army intact a new offensive was planned. It is true that an offensive was planned for the 15th of June against the Roumanians, due to the fact that they did not evacuate the territory indicated by the Entente. It is also rumored that there might be a similar attack against the Czecho-Slovaks on the pretext that the Entente did not live up to their promise in making the Roumanians evacuate the occupied territory.
The fighting troops are estimated at about fifty or sixty thousand; cannon about 350; small arms munitions about 40,000,000 rounds and well supplied with machine guns. A number of the army aviators crossed the border with their machines to the white guard in the vicinity of Szegedin and did not return, so that at present they do not allow officers to fly, but instead the communistic enlisted men are doing it.
Life in Budapest.
Life in Budapest is very depressing the people being in a nervous state of mind, practically all stores are closed, commerce has ceased entirely, shortage of food is very marked. The workmen are getting about three ounces of meat daily, but the bourgeoisie has to subsist on vegetables and very little of that. Fat is absolutely unknown, and the government does not make any effort to remedy the condition of the bourgeoisie, all they want and care for is the proletariat and of those the communists come first. The city is in a continuous state of alarm, the wildest rumors being circulated so that practically every day the government has a number of red guard in readiness to suppress a possible counter-revolution. Many of the original labor battalions have been disarmed due to lack of confidence, and in their stead many young and old men, who are supposed to be communists, were armed and in this way they tried to make up for the military losses. A Socialist leader has informed me that the number of true communists is very small, and that the only reason for being able to keep up the present system is due to the following reasons:
- 1.
- True communists numbering about two or three thousand in Budapest.
- 2.
- Number of laborers who gained high positions through this system, who wish to stay in power.
- 3.
- Fact that many Socialists fear the return of the old system of government, consequently they remain passive or assist the present government.
- 4.
- Number of intelligent class who could not make a living under previous government and at present hold leading positions.
According to information received from a number of Socialists they desire military intervention by the Allies, at the same time making the following proclamations to the people: [Page 609]
- 1.
- Allies intention not to remain in country, but to occupy it in order to restore order.
- 2.
- Allies willing to support Social Democratic Government formed by Garami (Minister of Commerce in Karolyi Cabinet and well liked by all classes, now in Switzerland).
- 3.
- Immediate lifting of blockade with shipment of food supplies at the earliest possible moment so as to show the beneficial influence of changing governments.
- 4.
- Amnesty granted to all taking part in the present government and prevention of white guard terror.
If the above were done the general belief is that the Allied troops, preferably British and if possible some Americans, could march into Budapest without any fighting whatsoever.
It is reported that Michael Karolyi and family has left Hungary and are supposed to have gone to Italy.