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On June 28 Cerruti protested in the name of his government against the Hungarian-French rapprochement. He reiterated this on July 3. The Italian high commissioner emphasized that Franco-Hungarian collaboration had created bad feeling in both England and Italy. He reminded Kanya that Prime Minister Huszar and
Foreign Minister Count Somssich had personally declared to him in February that Hungary wished to base its foreign policy on cooperation with Italy, inasmuch as it was necessary for Hungarians and Italians to defend themselves jointly against the pan-Slav danger. Beyond this first initiative the Hungarian side had done nothing at all really to further a Budapest-Rome rapprochement. Kanya, the Foreign Minister's trusted permanent deputy, pinned the blame for the standstill in Italian-Hungarian relations on the Italian government. He argued that Italy's policy concerning Romania, which disregarded Hungarian interests, was thwarting the Hungarian government's implementation of its original plan. Cerruti pointed out Romania's importance for the planned Central European stabilizing bloc. In order to achieve this stabilization, Hungary had to normalize its relations with the Romanian government, even at the cost of temporarily accepting the Romanian conditions, that is, of acknowledging the extant situation in this area. This did not mean that later on this situation would not be modified. He trusted that Transylvanian autonomy could now be effectuated.99
France's "advice" concerning Romania, as we have seen, did not impede a Franco-Hungarian rapprochement. Here therefore is another factor to be considered: namely that Italy's potential for carrying through a revision was insignificant. Budapest wished to give preference to the power that was capable of securing alternate compensations for certain concessions. In the period under consideration it regarded France as such a power. In the present study we will not touch on the behavior of the United States in connection with the Hungarian-French rapprochement as its attitude in the matter was quite indifferent.100
The policy of England and Italy, sketched out above, had an effect not only on Hungary but on her neighbors as well. As we have seen, it induced the former to retreat, and provoked the latter to attack, and take decisive measures. Benes stood in the forefront of the struggle. The Czechoslovak Foreign minister wished to make the most of the possibilities offered by the situation: he wanted to put into execution his old plan concerning a Little Entente. Until the Paris peace conference, collaboration among the three states had been occasional and bi-lateral. Unified action was first taken at the Trianon peace conference. Following this they again went on their separate ways. Both Yugoslavia and Romania rejected Benes' alliance proposal, and they adhered to their position until the summer of 1920.101
The Franco-Hungarian secret agreement, however, nudged the three states toward each other, and played a catalytic role, as it were, in the configuration of their relationship. The director of Czechoslovak diplomacy immediately recognized the possibilities offered by the given atmosphere. Yugoslavia and Romania were in a panic; they were aware that Hungarian revisionist aspirations, along with France's support, represented a potential danger, and that Benes' present message-"Hungary is no longer our enemy, but our rival"102 summed up the actual situation. From the end of July communications between Belgrade, Bucharest, and Prague grew more lively. Nincic traveled to Prague and discussed the new situation with Benes, and the two foreign ministers agreed on the signing of a treaty. Benes prepared for the signing of the agreement in Belgrade. Before his departure he informed Renner that the Hungarian revisionist efforts, supported by the French, had made the formation of the Little Entente necessary.103
The French government followed Benes' every move closely-and with great dissatisfaction.
The directors of French diplomacy opposed most vigorously the organization of the Little Entente, and even tried to block it with the means at their disposal. It was obvious to them that this alliance would thwart their plan for a Danubian confederation, whose aim was to obtain the cooperation of every Danubian state, first economically, and then politically. The Little Entente would divide this area into victors and vanquished, and inevitably drive the latter among them into the arms of Germany. Their position found precise expression in Millerand's August 24 circular telegram, addressed to 11 embassies. In the telegram the prime minister mentioned those negotiations that aimed at the creation of an alliance whose member states would be Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Romania, and perhaps Poland and Greece. He referred to the already-extant Czechoslovak-Yugoslav agreement, and then continued thus:
Such a policy may be accompanied by the serious problem of the isolation of the Hungarian government which then may inevitably attempt to side with Germany, and find support there. Our daily concern, however-quite to the contrary-is to avoid conflicts, and to seek the elements of rapprochement and understanding among the different states of Central Europe, In order to achieve this goal more effectively, I also fostered an economic rapprochement between French and Hungarian enterprises. The strengthening of French influence in
Budapest, therefore, seemed suitable for serving the cause of peace, for this would offer to each of our Central European allies a sure guarantee that will prevent a renewal of Hungary's policy of conquest. Under such conditions the affiliation of Poland or Greece with the planned combination may bring with it the threat that it will promote the break-up of Central Europe into two camps, which would increase the danger of conflict. It is not in our interest, therefore, that the government to which you are accredited enter into a grouping with such an orientation. I request that you, using your judgment and discretion, call the attention of the government to the grave consequences of this policy, which masks the danger of a conjunction of Hungarian and German interests, and makes difficult the development of natural relations among the Central European states.104
This, therefore, was the official position of France regarding the formation of the Little Entente. This serious document, possessing the value of a source, gives witness in itself to the fact that Paris not only did not promote the formation of the alliance, but also condemned the Czechoslovak-Yugoslav agreement, and even tried to keep the other states from joining. Under France's determined intervention the Romanian government began to waver, and at the time of Benes' Romanian negotiations the French Marshall Joffre arrived in Bucharest unexpectedly. Diplomatic circles followed developments with rapt attention, and waited to see who would be the victor, Benes or Joffre.
The victor turned out to be Joffre. Romania did not adhere to the Little Entente; it was only prepared to make a verbal agreement. It signed the Little Entente agreement only a year later, when the Hungarian danger-as a result of ex-King Charles IV's attempted putsch-again became acute, when a new turnabout occurred in France's Danube basin policy, and when despite its wishes it sided with the established Little Entente. By the fall of 1920 Paleologue's Hungarian-oriented policy had fallen through. After the establishment of the Czechoslovak-Yugoslav agreement the French opposition intensified its attack against the Millerand-Paleologue foreign policy line. In Paris they suddenly realized that the building of a new order in Central Europe had started not only without them, but expressly against them. Consequently, Millerand found it better to repudiate his plans concerning Hungary, and to appease his critics, he made Paleologue, the man who had openly taken up Hungary's cause, the scapegoat.
Notes
1. For a long time historiography evinced considerable vagueness on this
question. The documentary material now available from the Quai d'Orsay makes
possible a fuller and more accurate description of events.
2. It can be observed in the case of all three Great Powers that private
enterprises, supported by the government, got their hands on economic assets of
the Danubian states.
3. On this point see France, Ministere des Affaires Etrangeres, Archives
Diplomatiques, Serie Europe 1918-1929 (hereafter AD); Hongrie
(hereafter H), Vol. 58, f. 4-9, "the Hungarian opening and French interests."
4. Czechoslovakia, Austria, and Yugoslavia declared neutrality in the
Polish-Soviet war. Romania, although it did not make a declaration of
neutrality, was still not willing to send its army to the Polish front. It
wished to utilize it to guard the Hungarian border.
5. AD, Europe 1918-29; H, Vol. 58, f. 197.
6. Another memorandum of the French foreign ministry contains the following
line: "La puissance qui dominera la Hongrie possedera la clef vente de l'Europe
Centrale." Fouchet, Memorandum, December 11, 1920, AD. Europe 1918-20,
H, Vol. 60, f. 140-49.
7. The Hungarian government sent the peace delegation to Paris only after
repeated invitations.
8. Before this Hungary had no definite foreign policy. It leaned toward several
countries: England, Austria, and Romania, though Great Britain stood in first
place.
9. Francis Deak and Dezso Ujvary, Papers and Documents Relating to the
Foreign Relations of Hungary, Vol. I (Budapest, 1939) (hereafter
PDH); Memorandum on the conversation of Paleologue and Halmos (April 13,
1920), AD, Europe 1918-29; H, Vol. 58, f. 78-79.
10. PDH, pp.243-44; doc. 236.
11. This was signified by the acceptance of Halmos's April 23 memorandum as a
basis for discussion.
12. Telegram from Fouchet to Millerand (April 1920), AD., Europe
1918-20; H, Vol. 58, f. 61-62.
13. Ibid.
14. Ibid.; Report from Fouchet to Millerand (April 28,1920), AD,
Europe 1918-29; H, Vol. 58, f. 67-71. Having a pro-Hungarian reputation,
Fouchet regarded an agreement with Hungary as important, even at the cost of
significant concessions. Already at the end of April he reported to Millerand
with satisfaction on the decrease in the anti-French mood. Report from Fouchet
to Millerand (April 23,1920), AD, Europe 1018-29, f. 101-06.
15. In contrast to the official position of France, Fouchet supported Archduke
Joseph in the multi-directional activity in which he was engaged to
55. Telegram from Fouchet to Millerand (June 1920), AD, Europe 1918-29;
H, Vol. 58, f. 208. Ullmann made clear that public opinion was against
the leasing of the railways, regarding this as anti-national. The railway and
Credit Bank options were interrelated, and as a result the hostile mood also
turned against the Credit Bank.
56. Teleki's communique to Csaky read: "C'est grace a une forte pression du
gouvernement hongrois que la direction de la Kreditbank, qui a attache une
grande importance au maintien de ses rapports etablis depuis longtemps avec
d'autres groupes etrangeres, donna son consentement a la remise de l'option."
PDH, doc. 361, pp. 366-68. Teleki to Fouchet: "Le Gouvernement hongrois
a enfin reussi a vaincre la resistance du baron Ullmann." PDH, doc. 366,
pp. 370-71. "He conditioned his approval on a written guarantee to this effect.
This was given in the form of a letter to him from the Prime Minister stating
that the granting of the Credit Bank option is in the interest of the Hungarian
government and not of the Bank. Count Apponyi, Count Bethlen and Popovics have
made similar statements in another letter written to Ullmann." PDH,
doc., 361, pp. 366-68.
57. PDH, doc. 301, pp. 318-19.
58. Ibid.; Letter from Horthy to Teleki (June 9, 1920), AD, Europe
1918-29; H, Vol. 59, f. 21; PDH, doc. 351, p. 355.
59. "Paleologue mentioned today Regent's letter to Your Excellency and remarked
that this official document referred, among other things, to the memorandum
which Count Bethlen gave him some time ago and which he accepted a titre prive
and only as matter of information." PDH, doc. 351, p.355.
60. PDH, doc. 349, pp.353-54.
61. Ibid.
62. Csaky reported on this as follows: " ... he [Montielle-M. A.] said
we may rest assured that we could tear this treaty to pieces whenever we felt
sufficiently strong to do so and that when that time came, we could rely on the
wholehearted support of France." PDH, doc. 368, pp. 371-72.
63. PDH, doc. 374, p. 375.
64. Les Commissions de delimitation ont pour mission de fixer sur le terrain:
(a) D'abord les frontieres decrites dans les Traites de paix; (b)
Ulterieurement les frontieres qui seron fixees apres l'execution des divers
plebiscites prescrites par les dits Traite's. League of Nations, Archives de a
Societe des Nations (Geneva), Instructions relatives aux Commissions de
delimitation, 19902/19584. I obtained the document from French historian H.
Bagdan, for which I owe him my thanks.
65. "En principe, la frontiere devra etre tracee sur le terrain telle qu'eIle
est definie dans le Traite de paix. En aucun cas, les modifications de
frontiere envisagees plus loin ne devront etre de nature a remettre en question
les bases memes de ligne decrite dans IC Traite." Ibid.
indiquees par la dite lettre d'envoi"-could be carried out. PDH, doc.
393, pp. 391-92. Yet a further significant variation between the two
declarations is that while the first, verbal declaration promised support for
the redress of ethnic and economic injustices, the second, written, one
supported negotiations between Hungary and her neighbors, the aim of which was
the elimination of conflicts. The June 22 declaration reads as follows: " ...
[the French government] est dispose a preter ses bons offices a toute tentative
d'accord a l'aimables entre la Hongrie et ses voisins en vue de faire
disparaitre toute cause d'hostilite entre les parties interessees qui
receviaient une satisfaction commun." Circular telegram from Paleologue (June
22, 1920), AD, Europe 1918-29; H, Vol. 59, f. 37; PDH,
doc. 393, pp. 391-92.
76. Circular telegram from Paleologue (June 22, 1920), AD, Europe
1918-29, H, Vol. 39, f. 37.
77. Ibid.
78. Memorandum from the French foreign ministry (June 9, 1920); this
viewpoint is vigorously stressed in AD, Europe 1918-29; H, Vol.
58, f. 205-6.
79. Memorandum from Csaky and Halmos to Paleologue (June 23, 1920), AD,
Europe 1918-29; H, Vol. 59, f. 44-45; PDH, doc. 405, pp. 404-8.
80. PDH, doc. 405, pp. 404-B.
81. Telegram from Millerand to Fouchet (June 26, 1920), AD, Europe
1918-29; H, Vol. 59, f. 63-65; Memorandum from Laroche on the
conversation he held with Csaky and Halmos (June 24, 1920), ibid., f.
50-132. According to Laroche's memorandum, Paleologue agreed to the
observations connected with the memorandum. Ibid.
82. The Hungarian government requested France to further the revision of the
military clauses of the Trianon peace, and the establishment of a conscript
army in place of the prescribed mercenary army, because they maintained that
the latter was unsuitable in the case of Hungary for the maintenance of public
order and public security, as it made the economic reconstruction of the
country impossible. Ibid.; PDH, doc. 405a, p. 408; Memorandum from Csaky
and Halmos to Paleologue (June 23, 1920), AD, Europe 1918-29; H,
Vol. 59, f. 44-45.
83. The proposal was that the French government support Hungary in the
retention of the Western Hungarian territories. In this way it could solidify
its French political orientation, and prevent Austria, which sooner or later
would join Germany anyway, from increasing its territory. Ibid. The
Hungarian government's idea was-and Csaky informed Paleologue of this-that
Teleki would report in parliament in response to an interpolation that Hungary
did not intend to withdraw its troops from the Western territories, and
Millerand would acknowledge this in some sort of declaration. PDH, doc.
361, pp. 365-68.
84. The request concerning the Hungarian minority was that the French
government instruct the military missions in the neighboring states to
represent the interests of the Hungarians there. Memorandum from Csaky and
Halmos to Paleologue (June 23, 1920), AD, Europe 1918-29; H. Vol.
59, f. 44-45.
85. AD, Europe 1918-29, H, Vol. 59.
86. "Montielle informed me today that both Vesnic and Benes were enthusiastic
about the idea of direct negotiations with Hungary under French auspices."
PDH, doc. 418, p. 426. Montielle informed Praznovszky that " ... the
Rumanians were also pleased with the suggestion of French mediation, though
their attitude was more reserved than that of the other. The Rumanians
emphasized their hope that France will not take part in the negotiations as an
ally of Hungary." PDH, doc. 455, pp. 458-59.
87. Memorandum From Praznovszky to the French foreign ministry (August 4,
1920), AD, Europe 1918-29; Roumanie (hereafter R.), Vol.
50, f. 97-98; Report from Saint-Aulaire to Millerand (August 12, 1920),
ibid., f. 109; Circular telegram from Paleologue (August 17, 1920).
ibid., f. 118.
88. Telegram from Praznovszky to Teleki (August 23, 1920), Hungary, Orszagos
Leveltar, Kulugyminiszterium (hereafter O. K. KUM), K. 74-1920, Paris,
incoming cipher telegrams.
89. " ... la situation est tres grave. La Hongrie dans ses nouvelles frontieres
et sans accords economiques avec ses voisins ne peut vivre." Report of Count
Saint-Sauveur (August 4, 1920), AD, Europe 1918-29; H, Vol. 55,
f. 169-77.
90. Saint-Sauveur's signature also figures on the document. The count arrived
in Budapest on July 24. The agreement, however, was supposedly signed on the
night of the 19th.
91. The Franco-Hungarian secret agreement, AD, Europe 1918-29, H,
Vol. 59, f, 181-92. This agreement does not figure among the documents
published by the Hungarian foreign ministry. If one had existed, then the
Hungarian government would have made it public in 1939. Today we know more
about the true story of the Franco-Hungarian negotiations and see their
background and aim more clearly; we see that, beyond promises and assurances,
how far the directors of French diplomacy wanted to go on the question of
revision, and we also have more precise information on the conditions they set.
France concluded neither a political nor a military agreement with Hungary, but
gave only a declaration of a political character, which implicitly included the
possibility of territorial revision. Further, we know that Millerand stood
essentially on the basis of the given status quo, and considered only minor
border corrections, Paleologue, on the other hand, went further than this in
the revision of the peace treaty he regarded even more far-reaching border
adjustments as permissible. He even expressed this verbally on several
occasions to the members of the Hungarian delegation. Thus, he informed Csaky
on June 20, 1920, why he had left out of the written declaration the earlier
phrase protecting the basic structure of
the peace. Csaky's report reads: "Paleologue intimated that the omission of the
phrase signifies the willingness of the French Government to overlook in our
favor, if necessary, the general structure of the treaty." PDH, doc.
378, p.378. This is also demonstrated by Paleologue's acceptance of Halmos's
April 23 memorandum as basis for discussion. After Paleologue's fall they often
spoke openly in the house of representatives about the efforts of the former
permanent secretary of foreign affairs in this direction; see Paul-Boncour's
remarks: Chambre des deputes, 1-re seance du mardi, 7. juin, 1921.
92. On this point see; Report of the French ambassador to Prague (August 9,
1920), AD, Europe 1918-29; H, Vol. 59, f. 180; Report of the
French ambassador to Prague (August 11, 1920), ibid., f. 1931; Telegram from
Pontalis, French ambassador to Vienna (August 13, 1920), ibid., f. 196;
Telegram from Charles Roux, French ambassador to Romania (August 30, 1920),
ibid., f. 208-9; Telegram from Fouchet, French high commissioner in
Budapest (August 18, 1920). ibid., f. 200; Telegram from Marcilly, France's
representative in Berlin, to Millerand (June 4 and June 6, 1920), ibid.,
Vol. 58, f. 175-76, 189; Italy, ASMAE, Seria politica 1920-30, Ungheria 1920,
pacco 1741, Telegrammi i portenza.
93. Report from Fouchet to Millerand (May 12, 1920), AD, Europe 1918-29,
H, Vol. 58, f. 154-62.
94. "La situation est tres emouvante depuis le commencement de la se-maine a
cause des demarches et parait-it de l'arrogance de mon collegue anglais, qui a
porte avant hier matin au Regent des offres de Londres." Report from Fouchet to
Millerand (May 27, 1920), AD, Europe 1918-29; H, Vol. 58, f.
146.
95. Telegram from Fouchet to Millerand (June 8, 1920), AD, Europe
1918-29; H, Vol. 58, f. 198; PDH, doc. 315, p. 328. According to
this paragraph of the peace treaty it would impound the state property of the
country as security for reparations. The French government was aware that in
reality the planned option conflicted with the decisions of the peace treaty
concerning reparations. This is witnessed by a note to be found in the French
foreign ministry, which contains the position of the legal expert. Note of June
9, 1920, ibid., f. 204-'.
96. PDH, doc. 327, p.328; Memorandum on Halmos's visit (June 9, 1920),
AD, Europe 1918-29; H, Vol. 58, f. 204; PDH, doc. 342, p.
349.
97. Telegram from Paleologue to Fouchet, AD, Europe 1918-29, H,
Vol. 58, f.
98. Note of June 8, 1920, AD, Europe 1918-29; H, Vol. 58, f.
205.
99. PDH, doc. 415, pp. 421-23; Telegram from Martin to Sforza, July 14,
1920, Italy, ASMAF, Serie politica, Roumania 1920, pacco 1520, fasc.
6670.
100. The diplomats ot the United States followed events closely, and filed
reports on the negotiations. They did not protest officially against the
Franco-Hungarian combination. The American press, however, giving credence to
the rumors of a secret agreement, attacked the French government, against which
the Millerand faction protested.
101. Report of Joung, English ambassador to Belgrade, to Curzon (March 2,
1920), DBFP, doc. 120, pp.149-54. We do not touch here on events
connected with the formation of the Little Entente; on this see: Magda Adam,
Magyarorszag es a kisantant (Budapest, 1968), pp. 9-40.
102. Telegram from Benes (July 30, 1020), Czechoslovakia, AMZV, PZ,
teleg. odesle.
103. Telegram from Torretta, Italian ambassador to Vienna (August 15, 1920),
Italy, ASMAE, Serie Politica 1920-30, Cecoslovachia 1920, pacco 034,
fasc.
104. Circular telegram from Millerand (August 24, 1920), AD, Europe
1918-29; H, Vol. 47, f. 71-72. Osusky, Czechoslovak ambassador to Paris,
gave an account in his reports of the attacks directed against Paleologue. The
French permanent secretary for foreign affairs warned him that his government
was following a dangerous path. Report of Osusky' to Benes, PZ., Paris
1920, Aug.20. In the Prague archives may be found several reports from the
Czechoslovak ambassador to Paris, which reflect the French position concerning
the developing Little Entente; see: Report From Osusky to Benes (September 1,
5, 6, 7, 10,1920), Czechoslovakia, AMZV., PZ., Paris, 1920.
A Case Study on Trianon |