The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-03
HUNGARY'S future
IS DEPENDENT ON
MANU- ACQUIRING
Count Apponyi Thinks There
Should Not Be Any Com
mercial Treaty of Cen
trail Powers Yet


minister of Hungary, present leader
of the opposition in Parliament, de-
clares that Hungary's brightest pros
poets for the future lie along the path
of manufacturing rather than agri-
culture; that to further these pros
poets Hungary must eventually create
a tariff wall which shall protect her
even against Austria, and that it is
her moral duty for the present to OPP
pose with all the power in her COM
mand the conclusion of any economic
trade treaty between herself, Austria
and Germany.
The Hungarian statesman, speaking
to the Associated Press correspondent
in one of the lobbies of the impressive
Parliament building on the bank of the
Danube, discussed the central Euro
pean alliance and the Paris conference
or the entente powers, with the lat
ters decision to boycott all trade with
their present opponents after the con-
clusion of peace. He said that while
he fully realized the possible effects of
the Paris conference for years to come
he was not in the least shaken in his
opposition to any premature CONNER
cial or economic treaty of the central
powers
The opposition of Count Apponyi and
his followers to the conclusion, at
present, of a treaty with Austria and
Germany rests on the following basis:
About year ago there should have
taken place new elections for Parlia-
ment But because most of the male
voters were in the field Parliament re-
luctantly voted to continue itself in Of
flee until new elections can be held
six months after the end of the war
The situation under the circum-
stances is, Count Apponyi feels, that
no member of Parliament can be NOR
ally sure that he really represents the
will of the people. In consequence he
has not the right to undertake step
having such vital and far-reachng
consequences for the nation Particu-
larly he has not the right to conclude
treaty Which probably will follow
the old custom between Austria and
Hungary and stand for 10 years, or
which as some now desire may be twice
that length of tine.
Thoueh HUNGARY has been steadily
advancing as manufacturing state
(some % per cent of it's male citizens
are in peace times ENGAGED in manu-
facturing) it is still thought of chief
ly as an AGRICULTURAL country For it
and position of an agricultural country
means eventually In Count ,.Apponyis
opinion that it's cultural and~-H"onomic
advance will be unequal to that of
Austria and Germany.
Hence the necessity Of an eventual
agreement that will include a. tariff
wall which shall protect it's BUDDING
industrial advance. Hence, the desira-
hility of assuming an attitude of equal
Jtfy f(x wi oil ~ u,
prospective central European group, an
attitude which shall on the one hand
prevent Hungary from getting the
worst of the deal" and on the other
shall have as it's ideal perfect harmony
equal interchange and equal ad
vantages for all concerned.
If nothing is undertaken too hur-
riedly during the present period of I'M
certainty If nothing definite. binding
resentative Parliament which knows
exactly what the situation is can act
Count Apponyi feels that the future
of Hungary and of all the central pow
ers is bright For the immediate pres
ent, however he believes that nothing
more may be attempted than sort of
tentative agreement to agree
later on.
But if the present majority in Parlia-
ponyi standpoint that nothing is to be
gained by a hasty treaty concluded in
advance of exact knowledge of after-the-
war conditions, 1t does not share the mi
nority view that a tariff wall against
Austria and Germany Is desirable The
opposition, therefore, has a double fight
oil it's hands; first, to postpone the con-
clrsion of any trade and commercial
agreement as long as possible, and then
k1I 49, Irt ant
stipulatons which it can hardly be antici-
pated Austria and Germany will accept
without demur.
The strong agricultural interests in
Hungary want some agreement whereby
the duties in Germany against then
products shall be lowered SO as to give
them market which they once had il
England until displaced by America and
which they even had in South America.
Their export trade has been virtually at
a standstill since 1S9O-that is, it has prac-
tically increased not at all since that
date, after it had grown by leaps and
bounds in the preceding 40 years.
Their cause is championed by the big
millers and distillers who would be will
ling even to see the bars let down to ag-
ricultural products from the Balkan
states If duties were SO adjusted that
they could compete in German markets.
The wood industry. including the manu-
facture of articles made of wood, have
always felt the cramping effects of pro-
tective duties aimed at them. They would
be glad to see an agreement tomorrow
by which the bars would be let down
Opposing them stand the textile and the
iron interests of Hungary. The former
have for decades deplored the lack of
sufficiently high protective duties. The
has tried to help them by
means of subsidiaries, but it has been
only partial help. for theit competi-
tors have been Austrian and German
firms that have been established for
scores If not hundreds Of years, firms
that long ago had paid up their original
capital out Of their profits, and that to-
day have even the advantage Of superior
efficiency because families for generations
have worked for them and know the
work as few others
The iron industry feels the need of pro
lection especially keenly because OF the
physical situation in Hungary In one fal
corner OF the monarchy lies the iron
that Is their raw material: in almost thu
corner lies the coal that they
must have. The mere work of bringing
the two together In the smelters puts the
producers at disadvantage that Is enor
nous when they must compete with Ger
many with its products close together,
and its highly organized system.
The task Of hitting upon an ideal com
mercial agreement which everyone will
accept. whereby the German and Austrian
governments will agree on the one hand
to the reduction of some of their du-
ties. and yet not oppose an increase IN
certain other Hungarian duties. is SO d.f-
icult that the more philosophical at
least of Hungarian statesmen despair ].
ever accomplishing It.