Paris Peace Conf. 184.011102/129

Mr. Albert Halstead to the Commission to Negotiate Peace

No. 321

Subject: The situation in German Austria and Hungary.

Sirs: I have the honor to call the attention of the Mission to that part of my coded telegram to-day, number 591,71 which refers to the proposed meeting on Monday of the peasant organization to express its condolence with the peasants of Hungary who are suffering from the Bolshevists and to demonstrate against the acts of violence against the peasants in Hungary. In this connection I would refer to the telegram, number 574,71 in which I stated that there were two peasant organizations already formed, one with 84,000 members in Lower Austria and another with 100,000 members in Steirmark, while other organizations in Salzburg and Tirol are being created and one is about to be formed in Upper Austria.

The government has been weakened because of the strength of the radical elements among the Social Democrats. This has been most vociferous and had the strongest influence. The Workmen’s Council is very radical though against communism by force. The peasants have in the past not expressed their attitude sufficiently or in such a form as to be particularly impressive, while the citizens have stood by, wringing their hands and done nothing.

The time has come, however, when if the government is to be a real government, in the sense of a government of all German Austria and [Page 610] not one of a single class, pressure from a source other than that of the workmen is necessary. It is for this reason that the peasants have been organized and that it has been suggested that the citizens should also be organized. A meeting on Monday will inaugurate, it is hoped, pressure to offset that from the workmen.

The Workmen’s council some time ago indicated very strongly its desire to be recognized by the government. This recognition would have made them into an equivalent of a second house which would in its natural course have developed executive control and probably far overshadowed the National Assembly itself.

Now, with a strong peasant organization, and with a citizens’ organization, if they are handled practically, the influence of the workers should be reduced and these organizations would then be put on a consultative function. It should be remembered that these efforts to strengthen the government are only in their beginning and have not as yet had any actual effect.

The action of the Foreign Minister, Dr. Bauer, in dismissing the Hungarian Minister and in refusing to answer Bela Kun’s demand for satisfaction has had an encouraging effect. The reported action of the Peace Conference in Paris in declining to admit German Austria as a foundation member of the League of Nations, but in promising that, when it appeared that German Austria had established a permanent government and was willing and able to meet her obligations, her admittance might be possible was a promise that combined a warning which, it is believed, will have most beneficial results.

I should emphasize the fact that there can be no real peace in Austria, no permanency of government, so long as across the border Bela Kun’s murderous regime is permitted to exist. Every evidence goes to prove that the situation in Hungary cannot be corrected until Bela Kun is overthrown. Every person who is acquainted with Hungary, who has any interests in that nation, and every individual who has returned recently from Hungary reports that those who oppose Bolshevism, and they constitute not less than 90% of the people, are unanimous in the judgement that a declaration on the part of the conference that no peace will be made with Hungary and there will be no negotiations looking forward to a settlement while the Kun regime lasts, is the only method by which the existing anarchy can be overthrown. This must necessarily be accompanied by preparations and movements to carry the will of the conference into effect. Bela Kun laughs at representations that give no evidence of being backed by force. Reports from several authentic sources show that he intends to begin an offensive against the Roumanians on the 15th and that he regards the Peace Conference as either unwilling or unable, on account of the social conditions in each members own [Page 611] country, to take aggressive action. The Allies and Associates have absolutely no moral influence in Hungary.

Military opinion is that while a force that can actually overthrow the Bela Kun Government is desirable, lest there be some miscalculation, it will be unnecessary to actually use that force when the people of Hungary, including Bela Kun and his adherents realize that words will be followed by deeds. I am not competent to judge the amount of force necessary but the military opinion seems to be that with the French troops on the Hungarian boundaries with these of the Czecho Slovaks, Roumanians and Jugo Slavs the work can be done but that British troops from Cologne and Italian troops should be started for Hungary so as to prove that the movement is in earnest.

I have referred in another dispatch to the report of Captain Weiss.73 The British military representative here, Colonel Sir Thomas Cunningham whom I informed of the report that reached me informs me that it confirms the reports which he himself has already received.

I have [etc.]

Albert Halstead
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  3. Supra.