Evening star., 1939-02-02

Horthy talked to every chief of mis-
sion and shook hands with the
Junior diplomatic officers. When
it came to the German Minister
he shook hands stiff1y, ignored his
STAFF and walked Immediately over
to the French, with whom he talked
at length.
But his preferred diplomat is the
American Minister, Charles Flour
noy Montgomery, who has been
here for the last five years. Mr..
Montgomery talks his language.
There is no false pretence in the
Minister'S attitude toward the re-.
gent, and Horthy likes it. Further
more, Mr.. Montgomery has gotten
the regent out of the hole more
than once.
Enthusiastic Bridge Player.
Since the political situation in
the last few Years makes it difficult
for him to leave his palace and 60
hunting-his favorite sport Horthy
plays bridge. He is bad but en-
thusiastic player. Sky is the limit
in his bidding. He is quiet loser
and a Growing winner. Fortunes
of war" he says when he loses the
rubber, but there is no limit to his
enthusiasm when he wins few
dollars. He jumps about in his
chair and cheers: Hit them, now
hit them. We have got them this
time"
The Hungarian regent goes out to
parties at the various legations in
Budapest, and since, the disappear
ance of Austria almost every coun-
try in the world is now represented
in Budapest. Hence the number of
dinners in the honor of Horthy are
large. He does not mind going twice
and even three times to missions
that he likes. And he likes those
legations where Immediately after
dinner is over he can start playing
bridge. And here is where Minister
Montgomery comes in handy. 1t
sometimes happens that the host
wants to entertain the regent with
some conversation about the gen.
eral political situation-a situation
to which the admiral refers as
making him pay for the dinner.
He cannot refuse to talk to his
host but throws desperate and pitt
full glances in the direction of the
American Minister. Mr.. Montgom-
cry takes the hint and approaches
the conversing couple with the re-
mark: What about some bridge,
your highness?' To which Horthy
replies with eagerness: "Of course,
of course. You know 1 love to
play And the host, knowing the
regents weakness for bridge. must
Immediately arrange a table for
him.
Also a Weakness for Roosevelt.
Regent Horthy has another weak
ness, President Franklin D. Roose-
welt. He knows exactly what he is
doing. He can quote you the last
speeches and knows more than most
Americans about the New Deal. 1t
is not an easy task for an Ameri-
can visitor to answer his searching
questions. For instance, he now
wants to know the why's and the
wherefores of the November set
back. Was it because Mr.. Roose-
velt's policies have become unpopu-
lar and, if so, why? No good try
ing to give him perfunctory an
swer. He wants all the inside dope,
because what is written in the pa
pers he can read himself. And If
he is not satisfied with your an
swer he will try and draw all he
can out of you. He always has the
feeling that people know more than
they can tell. A retort from one
of his visitors that frequently in
America people tell more than they
know brought a hearty chuckle from
the old man.
The government and the people
of Hungary are worried about the
present situation. They wonder
whittier they are going. But they
are unanimous in their opinion that
an untimely death of the regent
would be calamity for this coun-
try-it would be like knocking the
foundation stone from under an
edifice.