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

pensions, as well as stipulating a general amnesty for the participants of the
rebellion. Bethlen then remarked that Western Hungary had already been
handed over to the representatives of the Entente Powers. This, however, will
only become reality if an agreement is reached in Venice. The Entente – more
than likely – will demand that the rebels be removed from the territory. Hence,
it is already important to prevent the free-forces from getting fresh
reinforcements and be resupplied with new equipment. In the session, Interior
Minister Gedeon Ráday stated that he will issue the necessary instructions. 435
The Cabinet ordered a strong military cordon along the Trianon border.
At the determined tone of the Hungarian government, Prónay took a more
conciliatory position. In the name of “the high command of the free-forces,” he
wrote a new letter to the PM on October 10. Among other things, he stated that:
Lajta-Banate was proclaimed “to free the government from the responsibility
for the actions of the free-forces.” He deems the new state to be “an
independent territory” vis a vis the Entente Powers, the countries of the Little
Entente (Czechoslovakia, Romania and the Kingdom of Serbs-Croats-Slovenes)
and Austria but insists on the territorial integrity of Lajta-Banate. On the other
hand, he will carry out the government’s expectations and representatives
should be sent to the high command, with “financial and monetary support”
from the Budapest government to enable it to function. Finally, he asked that
the Hungarian government prevent the insurrection to be used by some for
insignificant political goals. 436
Clashes between the rebels and Austrian gendarme units continued after the
proclamation of independence. Col. Köller made a report on October 13 that,
according to information received from Nezsider, Austrian forces attacked rebel
units observing the border settlement of Császárkőbánya but the intruders were
forced back. In the village of Gyanafalva in the borough of Szentgotthárd, a
post of the free-forces was assaulted by a 40-strong group of émigré Hungarian
Communists who were also successfully repelled. They continued to shout:
“Wait, you cross-spiders,” alluding to the rebels wearing the double-cross
insignia on their clothing. The flag of Lajta-Banate was red with a
superimposed [apostolic-ed.] double-cross in white.
Prónay was, at this time, in Nagyszentmihály with Count Tamás Erdődy, the
chief of the rebel gendarmes and a few other officers, and “all behaved
impeccably,” There was all the more trouble with the commander of a local
rebel unit. “French Lt.Col. De Ligny is feeling very awkward in Gyanafalva,
and complaining. (…) Jakula, the local commander, yesterday ordered that
travel was only permitted with his written authorization and De Ligny, who
wanted to go to Németújvár this morning [October 13], was hampered and,
when he objected, had a rifle pointed at him by a rebel who spat at him:
Schwein entente Offizier [Pig of an Entente officer]. He turned back at this and
protested with Jakula who expressed his regrets and sent him an identification
435 MOL. K 27. Minisztertanácsi jegyzőkönyvek, 1921. október 7.
436 Soós, 1971, op. cit., p. 159.
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