New-York tribune., 1921-09-28
Hungarians at Odds
Horhyist Legitmsts-hascs of the Duel for Right of
Succession to The Throne
By Eugene S. Bagger

The attempted assassination in the
Hungarian Diet of Count julius An
drassy and Stephen Rakoszky brings to
a temporary climax the rivalry that for
two years has centered around the right
OF succession to the Hungarian throne
Admiral Horthy, who conquered"
Budapest at the head of the national
army in November, 1919, after the Ru-
manians evacuated under Entente or
ders, assumed the regency on an express
ly Legitimist platform. He pledged him
self to retain power only as long as
Charles's return was opposed by the
Entente. In the beginning he and his
Legitimist camp were bitterly fought by
the adherents of the Archduke Joseph,
who affected the role of an Orleanist
candidate as against the elder line of
the dynasty. Horthy was backed by
most OF the army, notably the dreaded
terror chieftain Pronay. Joseph's main
supporters were the ex-Premier Fried
rich and his faithful Hungarian Black
Hundreds. But as time went on the
alignment shifted.
In April, 1920, Horthy aroused Legit-
imist suspicious by ordering the army
to take an oath of obedience to himself
as head of the state. The Legitimists
held such an oath illegal, as the old
oath to Charles still was regarded
valid. From this time on Horthy was
suspected of aspiring to the throne
himself. Joseph's support dwindled
away and the issue crystallized between
Horthyists and Legitimists. The latter
included most of the elder statesmen
oldtimers like Count Apponyi and
Andrassy-as we'll as the major aristoc-
racy. The army and the new" men,
brought to the fore by the counter
revolution, held out with Horthy.
Both parties were pledged to mill
tarism. to a feudalistic and thoroughly
reactionary domestic policy, to anti
Semitism and to restoration of the old
frontiers. But the elder statesmen
feared that the terroristic methods of
Horthy and the extralegal despotism
of the army chieftains would undermine
the foundations of the monarchy and
the interests Of the aristocracy, and
really promoted another revolution.
The coup d'etat Of April, 1921, when
Charles suddenly returned to Hun
gary and tried to seize power, was
engineered by aristocratic leaders.
The coup failed. Regent Horthy. in
asking Charles to leave the land, was
only too happy that he could point to
the protests of the Entente. But since
then the Legitimist campaign against
Horthy has been waged with increas-
ing vehemence. While formerly the
existence of White Terror was
vigorously denied by monarchists of
all shades, now the Legitimist leaders
began systematic series Of reyela-
ticns. confirming the stories of hor-
rors perpetrated by Horthy's officers
at the expense of Jews and radicals,
and originally reported by Colonel
Wsdgwood and his British commits
sion Of inquiry.
Foremost among the denouncers of
military abuses were Mr.. Beniczky,
former Minister of Interior and close
friend Of ex-King Charles, and Mr..
Rakovszky. A few weeks ago the lat
ter, as Speaker of the House Of Rep
resentatives, received threatening
letter from Lieutenant Colonel PYonay.
Rskovszky submitted the document to
the House. charged military terror
ism asainst the LeSislatnre. and