Paris Peace Conf. 184.011102/368
Mr. Albert Halstead to the Secretary of State 97
Subject: Roumanians and Magyars in West Hungary.
Sir: I have the honor to quote the following telegram received today:
“Halstead, American Commissioner, Vienna.—Roumanian troops are advancing towards Western Hungary proclaiming that they come to restore order. Unable to communicate with Allied Missions at Budapest. We beg you to listen to our protest against Roumanian action. In Western Hungary there is perfect order in all districts and both Hungarian and German speaking population continues the work of peaceful restoration which can only be disturbed by disorderly Roumanian soldiery. Asking you to forward our protest to Allied Missions. Sigray, Government Commissioner for Western Hungary.”
I have forwarded copies of this to the British, French and Italian Missions, as well as to General Bandholtz, the American Military Commissioner in Budapest.
Count Sigray’s report of the advance of the Roumanians toward West Hungary is not confirmed but it is most credible because it is characteristic of the general attitude of the Roumanian army. No respect has actually been shown in Hungary for the commands of the Peace Conference. The Roumanian Generals have made promises which they were careful their subordinates did not carry out. Therefore, for them to send troops into the part of West Hungary which the Second Draft of the Peace Treaty assigned to Austria would not be surprising.
West Hungary is fertile, has had an abundant harvest, cattle are numerous and much other valuable loot could readily be obtained.
The assignment of West Hungary to Austria was the one change in the proposed Peace Treaty that gave any hope to Austria—it seemed to make easier the feeding of the great city of Vienna. It is therefore not surprising that the Acting Austrian Foreign Minister, Mr. Ippen, should have spoken to me today with great anxiety as to the effect of such an invasion as that of the Roumanians in West Hungary. The people are industrious and the peasants who formed [Page 631] the delegation that called at this Mission some days ago were a splendid type of hard-working men. They have suffered from Bolshevism and are now oppressed by Colonel Lehar the commander of the Magyar forces there with the direct purpose of preventing them from frankly expressing their preference for German Austria. The Magyars are seeking to follow the same practice that has been followed in all territories in which a plebiscite is to be held to show the popular wish. To be sure the Peace Conference has not ordered a plebiscite for West Hungary but the Workingmen’s Council of Austria has demanded that one be held so that the people may not unwillingly be joined to this country.
The most active person on behalf of the Magyars in West Hungary is one Zsombor, who it is reported has already been in Paris to prove to the Peace Conference that West Hungary desires to remain Hungarian in spite of the fact that at least 75% of the population are German and have long suffered from Hungarian attempts to make them Magyar. Zsombor is said now to be preparing evidence to show to the Peace Conference that the West Hungarians are dissatisfied with the decisions of the Conference. In other words he is playing the old game of manufacturing a non-existent popular sentiment.
All reports about the West Hungarian population show that it desires to live in peace and that the people when not stirred up by Hungarian soldiers, if not exasperated by Roumanian looting and if not annoyed by the carpetbagger Hungarian officials will preserve order and live in peace. It seems further probable that they could alone with a volunteer police or gendarmerie preserve perfect order. It was to be expected, therefore, that the Acting Foreign Minister Mr. Ippen should have today begged me to request the conference to require the withdrawal of all Hungarian troops from that section. He appreciated that the Peace Conference would consider that the absence of all troops might make conditions unsafe so he suggested that if any troops be sent an Italian detachment be chosen. Such a detachment would be preferable to soldiers from any of the countries which have gained territory by decisions of the Conference at the expense of Hungary.
I trust I may be permitted to express the opinion, and with all emphasis that is proper, that to permit the Roumanians or Magyars to loot the population of West Hungary will not only cause great suffering to a people who have kept order and have opposed Bolshevism but will seriously interfere with the policy of self-determination and have a bad moral effect in Austria which has so far without disorder accepted every decision of the Peace Conference. For the Austrians to see that the Peace Conference permits outside interference in territory that has been assigned to this country cannot but be unfortunate.
I have [etc.]
- Copy transmitted to the Commission by Mr. Halstead under covering letter No. 413, August 26; received August 28.↩