A KING WANTED.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17112, 6 April 1921, Page 7

A KING WANTED.

HUNGARIAN REGENT'S PLEA. ELECTION TO BE HELD. (Rr Cab'.e—Press Association—Copvri*ht ) (Australian «nd N.Z. Cable Association.) BUDAPEST, Anril 4. Cabinet has decided to hold elections in August for the election of a king. The Czecho-Slovak Foreign Minister, Br. Benes, has telegraphed to ..the "Petit Parisien," stating that, wnless Karl's adventure is ended by Thursday, steps against Hungary will begin. The military preparations have been completed. '

(Received Anril oth, 9.55 p.m.) mi\Y YO'iiK, April 4. The Budapest correspondent of the "New York Times" interviewed Admiral Nicholas von Horthy, Regent of Hungary, who assured him that tho Karl episode was definitely ended. Continuing, he said: "But it must be iemembcped that a Republican Hungary is impossible. The Hungarian mind has become habituated to a monarchy, which suits our people better. We could never go through an election every four years without agitation and excitement, resulting in great harm. It does not matter much which head wears tho Crown. Tho people will be less liable to the dangerous influonce of demagogues under a monarchy, and they will be steadiest and work best. We will solve our problems in due time, and prosper under an ordered but Liberal Monarchy." [Differences of opinion on the dynastic question have caused a new crisi'3 in the Hungarian Government Party, wrote the Vienna correspondent of the "Morning Post" on Fobruary sth. Tho Premier, Count Teleki, several Ministers, the President of the National Assembly, and a number of other deputies;— 37 in all—havo decided to take their own lino. At Thursday's conferonce of the Government Party the Premier moved a resolution that the party should declare that it was inopportune at present to raise the Monarchical issue. Instead of this resolution, however, the party adopted a motion by 62 to 53 votes in favour of a declaration that the party stood for the free election of a King. This defeat in his own party induced the Premier to submit the matter to the National Assembly yesterday, and as 109 members to 17 voted for his views on the dynaatio problem, he decided to form a ne.v Government Party or at least a new Coalition. It is notable that at yesterday's sitting the Foreign Minister, Dr. Gratz, referring to a recent statement by tho Czech Foreign Minister, Dr. Benes, vetoing the recall of the. Hapsburgs to the Hungarian Throne, and .speaking even of tho possibility of a casus belli, declared that the solution of a dynastic question was exclusively an internal affair for the Hungarian States with which' the Czecho-Slovak Minister must not meddle. Dr. Gratz; however, remarked further that competent politicians were agreed that the dynastic question must be shelved for the present. The Budapest journal "Szoszat" published an interview with the British High Commissioner, Mr Hohler, in which the latter says: "During my last visit to London in Decern-) ber I had an opportunity of speaking with Count Sforza, M. Leygues, and Mr Lloyd George on the Hungarian dynastic question. The attitude of the entire Entente is that it cannot permit on any account the return of the Hap*burgs'to the Hungarian Throne. This question is not regarded as on exclusively internal affair for Hungary, but a' 3 an extremely important • point of foreign policy." As to measures to be taken against Hungary in the event of tho return of a Hapsburg or how the Entents would prevent such a restoration, Mr Hohler declared that he could make no statement.! PARIS, April 4.

The "Matin-' says the contradictory announcements of Karl's plans are deliberate, and are aimed at wearing dut the opposition and delaying military operations. (Rtnfor'f TW«jrtm».)

(Received April 5% .7.25 p.m.) BERLIN. April 4. The ex-Emperor Karl is in bed with bronchitis. Vienna advices state his illness has taken a severe turn, and Karl is unable" to travel. VIENNA,. April 4. The Government is replacing Colonel Lehar, commander of the Hungarian Army Corps.

CB*att*'u T«i«ffwm§.) (Received April 6th, 1.30 a.m.) PARIS, April 5. A message from Budapest announces that the ex-Emperor Karl returns to Switzerland forthwith.