864.00/11–2547: Telegram
The Minister in Austria (Erhardt) to the Secretary of State
1200. Peyer arrived Salzburg November 22.1 Our 1180, November 21.2 With approval of Army authorities attempt was made to arrange secret meeting in Vienna between him and Oskar Pollak of Austrian Socialist [Party] to discuss Peyer’s plan for joint protest of European Socialist parties against treatment accorded Hungarian Social Democrats.
Meeting did not take place, however, as Austrian Socialists feel that any contact with Peyer who bolted his party would jeopardize their tenuous relationship with dissident elements in Hungarian Social Democratic party. Schaerf3 still thinks those elements may eventually succeed in ousting Szakasits.
[Page 401]Peyer himself believes Kethly,4 Ban5 and others are by now so terrorized, knowing that police are prepared to prefer contrived but well documented charges against them, that any revolt by party majority against Szakasits is out of question.
Projected joint proclamation of Socialist parties about Hungarian developments is topic which Peyer now intends discuss with Swiss, French and Belgian Socialist leaders.
Sent Department 1200, repeated Budapest 390.
- Former Hungarian Social Democratic Party leader Károly Peyer, who had been elected to the Hungarian National Assembly as a member of the Radical Party, announced the formation of a new Independent Social Democratic Workers Party on September 22. On November 21, he fled from Hungary.↩
- Not printed.↩
- Dr. Adolf Schaerf, Austrian Vice Chancellor and leader of the Austrian Socialist Party.↩
- Anna Kéthly, an officer in the Hungarian Social Democratic Party and editor of the party’s afternoon daily newspaper.↩
- Antal Bán, Minister of Industry and Assistant Secretary General of the Hungarian Social Democratic Party.↩