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

Paris Peace Conference rejected it – in the fall of 1921, it held out for the
possible creation of some sort of a Czechoslovak-South Slav corridor in the
west of Trans-Danubia. As well, the imminent danger that, in the interest of
retaining Western Hungary, Austria would yield to the pressure exerted by
Beneš. At this time, Beneš was attempting to draw Austria into an alliance, as
the fourth county of the Little Entente. His plan was, through the support of
Czechoslovakia for the annexation of Burgenland to Austria, to gain Austria’s
rapprochement toward the Little Entente, possibly to create an alliance. Thus,
the political and military ring around Hungary would be completed in the
West. 465
The Venice Protocol of October 13 made it the responsibility of Hungary to
proclaim to the entire population that: “An equitable agreement has been
reached and, thus, all Hungarians are called upon to observe this agreement as
their most patriotic duty.” A notice is to be made to the rebels that: “Arms are
to be laid down immediately under threat of the most serious penalty” and nonresidents
of Western Hungary should immediately leave the area. Within ten
days, the same holds for civil servants and serving or retired officers. Those
who comply with the notice will not be punished for acts committed during the
insurrection, and will get a general amnesty. The latter, however, does not
extend to ordinary crimes committed. Students who took part in the uprising –
also within ten days – are responsible to show up at their schools or academies,
else forfeit their semester. Those who continue to support the rebels will be
punished to the fullest extent of Hungarian law dealing with illegal recruiting.
The deadline for the previous decrees is three weeks. When the affected area
was evacuated by the rebels, Austria is to take possession. At the instructions of
the Italian Foreign Minister, the Entente will send forces to Sopron and hold the
plebiscite; first the city, then the surrounding area but the final result will be as
the combined result of the two. The protocol defined exactly the boundary of
the plebiscite: the semi-circle of Fertőrákos–Sopron–Ágfalva–Harka–Kópháza–
Nagycenk, also Balf, Fertőboz and Sopronbánfalva, nine settlements in all.
Finally, Austria and Hungary committed themselves to abide by the results of
the referendum. Eight days after the announcement of the results, the affected
territory is to be handed over to the entitled country. 466
The day before the signing of the Venice Protocol, PM Bethlen specifically
obliged himself in a separate memorandum to send in the Hungarian military if
the rebels do not withdraw from Western Hungary. This undertaking, until its
possible use, was not to be made public. On October 13, Bethlen and Toretta
made another secret agreement. In it, the Italian Foreign Minister agreed to use
all his influence to sway the Entente committee to be cognizant of Hungarian
claims when deciding on the border definition. Bethlen reported on the Venice
dialogue and the two secret agreements at the Cabinet meeting held on October
465 Ádám, Magda: A kisantant és Európa 1920-1929 [The Little Entente and Europe
1920-1929]. Budapest, 1989, pp. 126–127; Halmosy, 1983, op. cit., p. 186.
466 Halmosy, 1983, op. cit., pp. 179-183.
183