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

In the interest of maintaining open, just and honest international relations, to
ensure the rule of law in the mutual exchange between free peoples and to
ascertain and to have guarantee of the ethical respect in all manner of
international obligations, we have taken up arms and now stand with no enemy
on our ancient land.
To keep and ensure our achieved freedoms, we proclaim and form the
independent, sovereign and neutral state of Lajta-Banate, comprised of the
people in the territories to be evacuated [by Hungary-ed.] under the terms of
Article 27, paragraph 1 of the Trianon peace document.
The prerogatives of Head of State will be vested in the Viceroy, who shall be
elected by the Constitutional Assembly. Executive power will be exercised by
the Viceroy through a six-member, responsible Governing Council. The official
language of the Banate is Hungarian; however, every citizen is free to use his
mother-tongue in all official and private matters.
Laws and directives are to be publicized in the Hungarian, German and
Croatian languages. Provisionally, the laws of the Hungarian state shall remain
in effect.
Every citizen of the Banate, without regard to his nationality, language or
religious affiliation, is equal before the law and enjoys the same political and
civil rights and responsibilities.
The terms in this declaration of independence we accept as binding, which we
will respect, and have others comply with, as attested by affixing our signatures
and seals.
Dated the fourth day of October, 1921 in Felsőőr.
The Constitutional Assembly of Lajta-Banate.” 419
According to the terms of the proclamation, the head-of-government and
executive powers were exercised by a Viceroy [Bán] elected by the
Constitutional Assembly, and assisted by a six-member Cabinet and the
government. Provisionally, the office of Viceroy was filled by Pál Prónay, as
Commander-in-Chief of the unified – on this day – five rebel armies. The
following day, the six-member Lajta-Banate cabinet was constituted. Its elected
president (as well as being temporarily minister of the Religious Affairs and
Public Education portfolios), was Capt. László Apáthy. Members: Ferenc
Lévay, External Affairs (and temporarily Justice), Béla Bárdoss, Internal
Affairs, György Hir, Economic Affairs, as well as Pál Prónay, military advisor.
419 Missuray-Krúg, 1935, op. cit., pp. 161–163.
162