A FORMIDABLE RIVAL TO KARL

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 86, 8 October 1921, Page 5

A FORMIDABLE RIVAL TO KARL

For months an elaborate propaganda has endeavoured to persuade the world that Hungary is Royalist. - This is not correct (says the Budapest correspondent of the Manchester Guardian, writing in August last). \ Many influential Hungarians, particularly those whom foreign1" visitors in Budapest are likely to meet, are Royalists; but they are only a mino-/> rity of the population. Hungary is an agricultural countcy, the predominant class are peasants,'and the countryside is Republican. At present the "Terror" propagates the Royalist idea, and no pne in Hungary dares yet to express the truth. In Austria everyone seems to be Republican—thanks to the Republican ''terror," which suppresses the Royalist propaganda as vigorously as Hungary suppresses the Republican. As a matter Of fact, there is a very strong Royalist feeling in Austria. - One cannot judge from surface indications. Stephen Szabo, the Hungarian peasant leader,, recently said when I asked him how the peasants sland: '.'The peasants are indifferent on the "Royalist issue. They care very little whether Hungary is a republic or a-kingdom so long as their land is guaranteed them. But they are deadly anti-Hapsburg. If some coup d'etat should establish an anti-Hapsburg king the peasants would no doubt accept the fait acepmpli, but, on the other hand, if a republic were to be established the peasant would be just as well pleased." Odon Beniczky, who has become the mcuthpiece of the pro-Karlists in Parliament, states that in hjs opinion the peasants, while so far expressing themselves negatively rather than constructively on the king question, are fundamentally Republican.

Ex-King Karl is by no means the only claimant to the Hungarian throne, nor the only candidate with an effectively organised following. Three or four plots are being made simultaneously around the Hungarian- throne. King Karl and tlie Archduke Albrecht are probably the most hopeful candidates. Karl's partisans are chiefly the traditional classes, for obvious reasons. If the traditional rights of the King go, their rights may, follow suit. The olcToffi.7 cers and bureaucrats consider that they must .be true to their oath of allegiance* sworn U> King Karl. The chief personal supporters of Karl are Count Andrassy and Count Apponyi and the ex-Foreign Minister Gratz. They oppose a coup d'etat for the restoration_p,f Karl, but hope to attain their aims through diplomacy and negotiations through the League pf Nations. Primate and Archbishop Csernoch belongs to this group, and the chief military supporters are Colonel Lehar, General Lukasich, General Hegedus, and Captain Osztenburg, leader of one of the four famous detachments. The i "putchist" fqjlpwers of Karl are Szmrecsanyi, Frjedrich, an 4 Beniczky, and the last two have opened a steady attack on Horthy in Parliament, exposing the White Terror and bringing to light the adventures of Pronay and Hejjas, both of whom are anti-Karlist-The Archduke Joseph, who not so long ago was xcertainly the most popular Archr duke of the Hapsburg, is Joeing his popularity, largely because he has no strongly organised following. His party has dwindled to a small group headed by St. Haller and Bernard.

THE RISING STAR-

The rising star on the horizon of Royalist hopes is Albrecht, son of the Archduke Friedrich, the commander of the Austrian armies during the war, and of the Archduchess Isabella. Albrecht has strong support in 'the person of Pronay, most vigorous of the leaders of the White Terror, who heads a power: ful following and was influential in getting- Karl out of the country when he arrived in April. Albrecht has also the support of Eckharf, chief of the Hungarian propaganda bureau, whose clever work had much to do with .bringing Horthy into power. Captain Kqzma, of the v _ official Hungarian telegraphic agency," is also pro-AJbrecht. Among the aristpcrats his two leading supporters are Count Emmerich Jtarqlyi and Baron Perenyi. Count Karplyi was for a long time ah ardent Legitimist, but he is a deadly enemy of Stephen Frigdrich, who is now a KarHst leader. Count Karolyj, therefore, prefers to change his politics rather than sail under the same flag as his personal enemy.

Albrecht's another, the Arphduphess Isabella, is a Countess Croy, and claims to be_a descendant of the first Hupgarian dynasty of Arpad—a dynasty extinct for 600 years. Nevertheless Albrecht's followers, wish to proclaim him under tlia name, of Arpad JL, National King of Hungary. This would dissipate, they think, the anti-Hapsburg feelings of the peasants. The Archduchess Isabella, who is a clever woman with much energy, U working very hard in the interests of her son. It ig said that- she lias borrowod 200 million kronen on her extensive estate, ajid ie using the money for propaganda. Although she has always, previously lived abroad, she has npw settled in Hungary, at Magyarovar, and intends, it is said, to buy a palace in Budapest, Albrecht himself has recently made a. journey into France and Spain, where he seems to"]ia,ve won the favour of the Schneider {Le Creusqt) group, who formerly championed KarJ. Proijay and his.followers are'believed to be planning a coup d'etat for Albrecht as soon as possible, but they are still encountering too much resistance from the "Legitimists to make such a move feasible, just yet. In the meantime, ivhile persons and cliques are planning and plotting as tq who shall be king in future Hungary, 110 one is Jiothering about the peasants, who may. one of these dfiys, lose their patience and decide to settle the whole matter by haying a republic—a republic in which thiy, «« *, claee, will rul^