The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-03
COUNT APPOINT IS.
 HOPEFUL IF FUTURE.
 HUNGARY OUTLOOK.
Universal Interests Will Help Country to a Higher Posi- ton Than Intended in
 Peace Treaty
By Associated Press


 Budapest, July AT worked for Hungary's prosperity during my half-centennial political career. suffered with my people when, the war and the final catastrophe crushed us and now I rejoice to see the nation rising nobly again" said Count Albert Apponyi Hungary's Grand Old Man." to the Associated Press correspondent in the garden of his quaint old palace on the Buda-hill overlooking the Danube and the city. bathed in the golden rays of the early morning sun
 Count Apponyi recently celebrated his seventy-fifth birthday and the special session of the national as- sembly, the gala performance at the opera house, the numerous banquets which were held in honor of the Grand Old Man" gave expression to the esteem in which he is held by the Magyars.
 You ask me to look backwar d and sum up my experiences the last 30 years?" unused Count Apponyi, stroking his long patriarchal beard. Well, look here"--and he pointed to the Danube and the city-"when 50 years ago I looked down from this same spot, I saw lonesome river and one solitary bridge over it built by an Englishman from purely British-made material. 1x- cept for handful of one-steried houses only dunghills extended along the banks.
 Six New Bridges
 Now look. Six new bridges home made to the last nail-are thrown across a river loud with the traffic of steamboats. You see the dark outlines of our Gothic Parlia- ment and the long rows of noble mansions, you hear the distant dron- ing sounds, the bustling toll of a million inhabitants. Here you have our history of the last century, which can boast of marvellous eco homie, technical. cultural prograss of almost American proportions b But. alas, my pleasant recollec- tions are obscured by pictures of a gloomier hue. The bulk of the ma ton, the gentry and landed middle class could not keep abreast of the feverish economic struggle and con sequently fell back. Clinging to the traditions of a long semi-feudal past they neglected trade and commerce and were ill-fitted for the exigencies of modern public and intellectual life. Their footing thus lost has since been occupied by the Jews; hence the expansion of their in- fluence, for which they can hardly be blamed.
 Another Dark Side
 "Our gigantic struggle during the last decades has yet another dark side We became but lately aware of social life not merely production and consumption, but much more just distribution of goods produced and that 8 social legislation has to keep watch and eliminate the bad consequences of free competition as we'll as check the tyranny of the | rich. T, at least, have sbeen preach | ing and advocating for 30 years Liberal labor policy and the satis- faction of all labor claims which are comparable with efficient pro duction.
 "The disastrous war and the more disastrous peace made my flourish I ing country a wreck. We lost two thirds of our former territory, our woodland is altogether gone. most | of our mines have been taken and ruins of former Hungary were ex- posed to the storms of two revoiu- tions and subsequent Rumanian ] occupation.
 And yet my faith remains uns shaken in Hungary's resurrection The future will prove that universal l interests will help Hungary to a higher position than what was in- tended to be given to her by the peace treaty. Hungary will win, II 1 not leading, at least strong po- sition in Central Europe because none of the shaky new states VIII be found equal to fulfill the nistor'c function of the former dual mon archy which consisted in securing peace, tranquility and in spreading western ideas in this part of the world. Hungary, though mutiiated will show herself fit for the task and will come to her own in the 1 long run"