New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-12

Why Hungary Cannot Help Stem
The Tide Of Bolshcpiam

ttN. 4 t0S W IAOtotSptWS
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Under the title "A Fictitious
Bulwark," an article was printed in
your issue Of August 2. AS one who
knows Hungary and her political life,
as we'll as the mind Of her political lead
crs, was deeply pleased with the
clearness and accuracy with which your
editorial presented the actual situation
of that country Indeed, after reading
the high sounding statements of Count
Teleki, of Admiral Horthy and of their
associates, one acquainted with the
real conditions has the impression that
they either do not know what their
statements contain, or-and this seems
to be the case-something else is be-
ing concealed behind the words.
To assert that the help Of Hungary
in the fight against Bolshevism is of
vital Importance for the issue of this
struggle means to forget that coun-
try's situation and the forces she can
dispose of. Between the Hungarian
territory and the realm Of the Soviets
there are in the northeast Czecho-Slo-
vakia and Poland (Galicia) and in the
east the whole Of Rumana The
Czecho-Slovak republic has poulaton
of 12,000,000, Rumania has a popula-
ton of 100000, while Hungary
scarcely has 100000 inhabitants. If
military intervention will be decided
upon by the Allies, the great help will
be given By Rumania and Czecho-Slo-
of being invaded; this event would
happen only in case Czecho- Slovakia
and especially Rumania are crushed by
the Bolshevk armies.
The real purpose of these state
ments given by the statesmen of Buda-
pest has nothing to do with Bolshevism.
According to the peace treaty Hungary
is obliged to reduce her army to
standing of $4,000 men. The Hungarian
politicians repeatedly declared that
they will fight to rcconquer the terri
tories lost to Rumania, Czecho Slo-
vakia and Jugo- Slavia. This means
that they think of war of revenge as
soon as opportunity comes. This is
why they try under every pretext pos
sible to postpone the reduction of their
army, waiting, amid eventual new
complications, for the right moment to
invade again Rumanian and Czecho-
Slovak territory. How idle and foolish
this idea may be, it proves the exist
ence of a political direction we have
to reckon with, all the more as in the
last time Hungarian patrols at sew
eral points of the Ruzaanian border
opened fire on our frontier guards.
1t does not seem very serious in these
circumstances to emphasize contnu-
ously that the troops of the Hun
garan white terrier will be the sa-
viors of the world, as the Hungarian
nobility are presenting the case. Be-
sides Hungary has too much to do at
home, where innocent people are being
massacred, the democratic movement
of the terror, all sound minded demo-
cratic leaders were forced to flee to
Vienna.
The propaganda from Budapest is in
accordance with the statements cir
culated in this country by Charles
Huszar, late Premier of the terrorstic |
government of Hungary, who, the other
day, also from the columns of New
York newspaper attacked Rumania
with calumnies and pleaded again for
the territorial integrity" of former
Hungary.
Far from being bulwark to Boil
shevism, Hungary, by her oversize !
army, led by dangerous political ideas,
only menaces her ncighbors and makes
it impossible for Rumania to array her
full strength against the Bolshevik
flood. BASIL STOICA.
Commissioner of the Rumanan
Government.
New York AuC 10 1901