Paris Peace Conf. 181.9202/97
The Prime Minister of the Hungarian Government (Friedrich) to the Interallied Military Mission
Sirs: The present Government of Hungary, of which we wish to say with pride and satisfaction that it enjoys the absolute confidence of the greater part of the population of the country—finds itself without the necessary support on the part of the Allied and Associated Powers as well as on the part of their representatives. This state of things has created a situation for which we cannot assume responsibility, and it is in consequence of this situation that the Council of Ministers has considered surrendering the power at present in its hands, into the hands of the mandatories of the Powers of the Entente.
Allow us, Gentlemen, to refer first of all to the requisitions of the Roumanian army of occupation, brutally interrupting the continuity of productive labor, leaving hundreds of thousands of workmen without bread. To its great regret, the Government has not been able to provide for the masses of men out of work, seeing that its financial resources are completely exhausted. Moreover, it is obvious that the discontent of the masses who are unable to make a living will increase from day to day and will necessarily lead to outbreaks threatening public order and safety.
We must first of all insist on the fact of the requisitions of the Roumanian Army, striking at the root of the rural economy and depriving the farmers of draught animals, seed, forage and farm implements to such a degree that even the harvest of next year is jeopardized. Now, if by these requisitions the economic order itself is deprived of the means of production, our country will no longer be able to support the public burdens and the feeding of the population will have to be effected by foreign importation. But as we also lack the financial means, it will be the Powers of the Entente who in the future will have to guarantee alone the public food supply. The stripping of the country of all means of communication by the Roumanian Army makes it impossible to provide the capital with food, coal and wood, so that without effective intervention and urgent measures on the part of the Associated and Allied Powers the Hungarian Government absolutely cannot assume responsibility in this matter.
What especially weighs upon the country is the fact that by reason of the occupation the Government cannot use the public revenues that it would have at its disposal under normal conditions. The collection [Page 673] of taxes and contributions is suspended, the raising of all other public revenues is impossible, because of the difficulties of communication, as well as by reason of the seizure of the service of posts, telegraphs and telephones. Not being able to meet the most urgent expenses, the Government is unable to pay the employees of the State and the public services. It is therefore in absolute need of benevolent aid from the Allied and Associated Powers, in order that the Government may improve its credit, and thereby avail itself of the services of the Austro-Hungarian Bank, and finally put its stamp on the notes of the Bank.
However, the most urgent task is the holding of the elections. All the preliminary arrangements are completed; but so long as the Roumanian occupation lasts the elections can neither be called nor held.
We take the liberty, therefore, to request that by agreement with the command of the Roumanian Royal Army, you will obtain evacuation of that part of the country beyond the demarkation line, as well as consent for the organization of an armed force necessary for the maintenance of order and public security.
According to our faith and belief, the elections will declare in favor of the present Government, that is to say, the new National Assembly will approve all the acts and measures of the Government.
With this absolute conviction, although under such circumstances no government can lay claim to the favor of being recognized by the Allied and Associated Powers, we appeal to the high representatives of the Allied and Associated Powers and beg them to intervene with their Governments in order that the agents of the Entente may enter into relations with this Government which enjoys the full confidence of the country, and that they may give its efforts favorable support, each lending assistance in order that, by the elections of the National Assembly, the country may come into possession of a legitimate government with power to establish a legal State.
We declare therefore, in the name of an overwhelming majority of the Hungarian nation, that if certain political parties at this time absent from the theater of our public life, shall henceforth enjoy the support of the Powers of the Entente and if by this fact it will be impossible for us to live up to the most elementary governmental duties relative to the consolidation of our country; the Government will be obliged to abandon its place and to hand over its power to the Allied and Associated Representatives.
Accept [etc.]
- File translation revised.↩