The Fate of Western Hungary 1918-1921 - Corvinus Library ...
The Fate of Western Hungary 1918-1921 - Corvinus Library ... The Fate of Western Hungary 1918-1921 - Corvinus Library ...
On January 1, 1922, Sopron and its surrounding area were returned to the ancient homeland according to international law, ending the two years struggle to retain the Western Hungary / Borderland territory. A jubilant celebration took place on that day. At 11:00, a farewell march-past was formed by the Entente troops who were ordered into the town on December 8-9 from the Silesian plebiscite area – 40 British, 120 Italian and 150 French soldiers. After their march past, companies of Hungarian soldiers marched through the Old Fortress section of town, followed by the flag-carrying representatives of the referendum villages. Finally, the Entente and Hungarian units lined up, facing each other in front of the main Post Office, and the generals and Hungarian officials walked between them. At precisely noon, the handover document was signed by generals Gorton, Hamelin and Ferrario, as well as the representative of the Hungarian government, General Árpád Guilleaume, followed by ceremonial speeches. In the following weeks, ceremony followed ceremony in the city. On January 6, the Mining and Forestry Academy students held a torchlight parade to City Hall, offering their congratulations to Mayor Thurner and the city that offered their school refuge three years earlier on their displacement from Northern Hungary. On January 10, a ceremony was held at the statue of Count István Széchenyi, in the presence of national and local leaders. The military units lined up tore off, on command, the black mourning bunting on their flags. In the Grand Hall of City Hall, a special ceremonial was held where the City Council said special thanks to the students “who have nothing but their mere lives, which they offered so freely for our city.” 509 The Hungarian government, to close the dispute peacefully, made a chivalrous gesture to the still-grumbling Austrian government. In a note, it expressed its regrets that it only got word too late, on December 14, of the Austrian wish to delay the referendum. Budapest expressed the hope that Vienna would finally put to rest the Sopron matter, giving an opportunity for the opening of dialogue leading to cordial relations between the two countries, something the Venice Agreement urged. In further two notes, Budapest hinted at considerations at the upcoming Hungarian-Austrian economic talks, which would greatly ease Vienna’s situation. In the end, Austria recognized the referendum results on February 20, 1922. The Hungarian Parliament also passed Lex XXIX, amending the city’s coat-of-arms with a ribbon on the bottom that read: Civitas Fidelissima or Most Loyal City. An interesting and valuable memento of the plebiscite is a silver spoon. The head of the Inter-Allied Military Mission was Italian General Carlo Ferrario, charged with overseeing the territorial handover and, later, arranging for the referendum. General Ferraro looked for suitable accommodations in the city, renting Templom (Church) Street 6 from a widow. The sizeable rent came in handy for the large family, in dire straits after the war. They were more than happy to move in with relatives for the required time. The Mission staff 509 Krug, 1930, op. cit., pp. 153–163. 198
inventoried the entire house and contents, including bedding, linen, silverware and kitchen utensils. When the Entente Mission left after the plebiscite, one silver spoon was missing according to the inventory. Lost, stolen or accidentally thrown out? It could not be determined. A few days later, General Ferrario handed the lady of the house a silver spoon, with the monogram C.F. carved on the handle, made from a Lombard-Venetian silver Solidus. 510 The family still retains the unique memento. 510 Kubinszky, Mihály: A népszavazásra emlékeztető ezüstkanál [The commemorative plebiscite silver spoon]. In: Soproni Szemle, 1992, issue 4, pp. 379-380. 199
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inventoried the entire house and contents, including bedding, linen, silverware<br />
and kitchen utensils. When the Entente Mission left after the plebiscite, one<br />
silver spoon was missing according to the inventory. Lost, stolen or<br />
accidentally thrown out? It could not be determined. A few days later, General<br />
Ferrario handed the lady <strong>of</strong> the house a silver spoon, with the monogram C.F.<br />
carved on the handle, made from a Lombard-Venetian silver Solidus. 510 <strong>The</strong><br />
family still retains the unique memento.<br />
510 Kubinszky, Mihály: A népszavazásra emlékeztető ezüstkanál [<strong>The</strong> commemorative<br />
plebiscite silver spoon]. In: Soproni Szemle, 1992, issue 4, pp. 379-380.<br />
199