The Fate of Western Hungary 1918-1921 - Corvinus Library ...

involvement in the royal coup attempt. The following day, April 15, Count
István Bethlen (1874–1946) formed a government and led the country for a
decade and stabilized its situation. A week after taking office, the new PM
called a meeting to seek a solution to the Western Hungary problem. It was
attended by: Miklós Bánffy from the Foreign Ministry, General Sándor Belitska
(1872–1939) from Defense, Count Gedeon Ráday (1872–1937) from Interior,
Gusztáv Gratz, former Foreign Minister, as well as Count Antal Sigray, Chief
Government Commissioner and István Zsembery, High Constable of Sopron
County. The first option they considered was: co-operation with Austria, while
counting on the fall of the Mayr government. Option two: The population of the
territory earmarked for annexation declares its independence and offers armed
resistance to the incoming Austrian forces. Option three: the territories to be
handed over calls a provincial meeting according to valid Austrian law, legally
refuses union with Austria and declares its intention to reunite with Hungary.
As a possible new plan, it was suggested that the country ask for the mediation
of a third country in this disputed question. In the interim, the country would
offer economic concessions to Austria and autonomy to the German minority of
the country. 242 The meeting eventually decided to continue talks with Austria,
both official and unofficial.
The meetings continued until April 28. While they were going on, a partial
plan of action was born for the retention of Western Hungary, earmarked for
annexation, complete with political and military directives. The basic principle
was that, as a last resort after the Trianon Treaty comes into effect, the area –
now part of Austria – proclaims its independence. Its governing body will be
the provisorischer Landesausschuss (Interim Provincial Committee), whose
members will be the area’s parliamentary representatives, the district’s chief
magistrate and the mayors of the larger towns. The committee will also name
an also temporary Landeshauptmann (Provincial Chief / Head), probably in the
person of Jakab Bleyer, the former Hungarian minister without portfolio for
minorities, who will be advised by Gusztáv Gratz, Hungary’s former
ambassador to Vienna and later Foreign Minister. At the same time as the
ratification of the Trianon Treaty, the Hungarian government intends to create a
link between the handing over of Western Hungary and the evacuation of Serb
troops occupying Baranya County, and the cities of Pécs and Baja. That is to
say, Hungarian units will remain in the western zone until the Serb forces
remain in southern Trans-Danubia. After the withdrawal of Hungarian forces
from Western Hungary / Burgenland, elections will be held in the annexed
territory, while preparations will be made for the return to Hungary of the
contested territory.
The action plan detailed that, on the authorization of the Interim Provincial
Committee, Col. Lehár, commander of the division garrisoned in Szombathely,
will begin local recruitment and create a defensive force for the autonomous
area. This organizing is to be supported by the Hungarian government through
242 Fogarassy, 1994, op. cit., pp. 307–308.
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