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

the end, to exacerbate relations between Austria and Hungary. (…) I offered the
calling for a plebiscite, which he deemed unacceptable, alluding to our exerted
pressure. (…) Finally, he asserted that Austria has utter need of this area
(meaning Western Hungary—J.B.) for strategic and economic reasons. (…) the
reluctance to hold a plebiscite proves that Austria was an eager student of the
annexation methods against which it rightfully complained in Saint-Germain –
learned much and forgot everything.” 195
On February 11, 1920, the government commissioner for Sopron County,
Jenő Fertsák, 196 reported, among other things, the following in a telegram to the
prime minister’s office on the activities of the Entente Mission: “It is more and
more certain by the hour that the Mission is preparing for the handover: today
they were asking outright questions regarding the methods of the handover,
whereas, up to now, they tried to make it seem their aim is only information
gathering. (…) the comments made yesterday and today by members of the
Mission lead me to conclude that there is faint hope for a favorable turn in the
matter of Western Hungary.” Fertsák urgently asked for instructions from the
government on what to do if the territory awarded to Austria had to be begun to
be evacuated and handed over to Austria. At the same time, he drew attention to
“if, as originally planned, all national and military assets are to be shipped out
from here, that will have an adverse impression on the population here, which
could be positively catastrophic on the outcome of a possible plebiscite.” 197 The
March 17 memorandum of Jakab Bleyer, minister without portfolio for
minorities, also added to the previous report. “I am powerless,” he reported to
the prime minister that, against the decision of the Cabinet, the dismantling and
evacuation of Western Hungary was continuing, especially by the army. He
asked the Ministry of War, without success, “to suspend the action due to the
negative effect on the mood of the population” but to no avail. Finally, Bleyer
urged that: local authorities be given instructions regarding “the type of conduct
to be shown and actions to be performed which would support the Hungarian
government and activities of the peace delegation in their effort to save Western
Hungary.” 198
The Hungarian government received frequent updates of the political mood
of the mainly German-populated Western Hungary from the reports of the
Hungarian Territorial Integrity Protection League [Magyarország Területi
Épségének Védelmi Ligájától / TEVÉL, rövidítve Területvédő Liga]. The
league was formed in November of 1918 as a civil organization, electing as its
president Lajos Lóczy (1849-1920), geologist, geographer, at its general
meeting in Budapest on December 14. The goal was to try and retain the
borders of King Saint Stephen (ruled 1000-1038), with the exception of
Croatia, using social and scientific means. It meant to make use of internal and
195 Ibid, 1920–XXII–1166. szám, 1., 3. old.
196 Fertsák Jenő korábban Sopron törvényhatósági jogú város főispánja volt.
197 MOL. K 26. 1234. csomó. 1920–XXII–1331. szám, 2., 4. old.
198 Ibid, 1920–XXII–3691. szám, 1–2. old.
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