Volume 16 , Issue 12

95 Years Ago - 7 April 1919, Monday

It was 95 years ago, 7 April 1919, Monday, Hungary Seeks Boundary Deal. Proposes to Gen. Smuts Meeting of neighboring Nations to Settle disputes. Vienna rumor of revolt. There were unconfirmed report there that Budapest Soviet Chiefs had been arrested.

Budapest, April 5 (1919, AP) -- The Hungarian government had proposed to General Smuts, who was sent there by the Peace Conference at Paris, that conferences be held at Vienna or Prague between representatives of Czechoslovakia, Rumania, German Austria, Hungary, and Jugoslavia regarding boundaries and economic questions.

Bela Kun, the Hungarian Foreign Minister, in discussing the situation with the Associated Press, said: "This is the first time the Entente has sent us a diplomatic mission. This is proof that the Soviet Government is the first strong regime since the November revolution. There is not the least sign that the Entente wished to undertake military operations against us. General Smuts has been received in a friendly spirit and a proposition for a conference concerning boundaries has been submitted to him."

Vienna Hears Soviet Has Fallen

Vienna, April 4 (via Geneva, April 5, 1919) -- Reports concerning the alleged downfall of the Hungarian government and arrest of the leaders is unverified, regular communication with Budapest being stopped.

According to report received , Budapest burghers were benumbed by terror caused by action of official agents. No loud word on the streets criticizing official measures was permitted under penalty of instant arrest. Arrests were of daily occurrence. The expropriation of residences was being executed with relentless rigor. Tenants inhabiting more than two or three rooms had to suffer billeting at the expense of the tenant.

The number of official ordinances was already legion. Numerous law offices had been closed and many Judges deposed. Publication was prohibited of any but the extremist newspapers. all had to turn Communists. The State offices were filled with numerous Russian Bolsheviki. A hunger crisis was imminent. Meat was unobtainable. Food was not arriving as there was a scarcity of trains.

For the purposes of Socialist propaganda, the Government had decided to create laborers- universities.

Berne, April 5 (1919) -- A considerable number of members of the Hungarian aristocracy were arriving in Switzerland and the adjoining Austrain district of Vorarlberg, seeking refuge from the uncertainties of the Hungarian revolution.

The Government of Vorarlberg had refused to allow the refugees to remain there more than a few days, and was inviting the Magyar magnates to promptly arrange other places of residence.

Hungarians Offered Aid

There was a cable Wilson urging him to save Hungary from Bolshevism.

Cleveland, OH, April 6 (1919) -- The Hungarian American Federation, a national organization of twelve years -- standing and 40,000 members, with headquarters here, cabled President Wilson at Paris on this day, urging him to save Hungary from Bolshevism.

The cablegram, signed by Henry Baracs, National president, and Eugene Privany, National Secretary, said that should official announcement be made that the right of self-determination of all people of Hungary would d be respected and no territorial changes made without a plebiscite under American control. Hungarian people would regain hope, Bolshevism disappear, and good government be restored.

Permission to send clothes and footwear to Hungary through red Cross or other agencies, to help overthrow Bolshevism, was requested.

This was published, April 7, 1919, in The New York Times.   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

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