A BOOM IN FORGERY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19687, 14 January 1926, Page 8

A BOOM IN FORGERY.

In the train of the great Hungarian bank-note forgery scandal other revelations of a more or less kindred complexion are following to such an extent that Central Europe is depicted as suffering a veritable epidemic of counterfeiting. There is report of the discovery of den after den of forgers in Berlin, some of those gentlemen having apparently been turning out ostensible Bank of England notes, though not, as it seems, to the actual embarrassment

of the authorities of on© of Britain’s great national institutions. If the activities of forgers are being subjected to a stronger light than usual in Europe, the discovery at this juncture that the gentle art of counterfeiting has been flourishing exceedingly in the countries concerned during the post-war period does not suidy reflect any particular credit on the authorities responsible for the suppression of such practices. The political aspect of the Hungarian business must inevitably leave a bad impression. If the disclosures at Budapest have encouraged the police authorities in Germany and elsewhere to take energetic action against forgers and counterfeiters so much the better. A feature of the Hungarian scandal consists in the circumstance that the Chief of Police at Budapest, Dr Nadossy, is apparently hopelessly compromised. According to a recent message he admitted his knowledge of the plot, hut pleaded justification in the national interests,, since “a patriotic deed was necessary to undermine the French franc.” A similar plea has apparently been advanced by the Prince whose name is so prominently identified with the forgeries and the political conspiracy alleged to be behind them. On the authority of the diplomatic correspondent of the Daily Telegraph we have it that “in accordance with tradition” Dr Nadossy was given warning of his impending arrest, and a “friendly intimation” that he would do well to avoid disgrace by timely suicide, hut he refused to take the hint, to the indignation of high military circles. Apparently the code of military honour is still regarded as entailing curious obligations in certain European countries. The Hungarian Chief of Police has chosen the more courageous part from the standpoint of communities that are not steeped in a militarist tradition.