Extremes Meet in Hungary

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 166, 31 July 1937, Page 18

Extremes Meet in Hungary

BUDAPEST — Extremes are meeting in Hungary. Natiohal Socialism and Commnnism are working together. It is not a f ormal coalition, but a commuuity of ideas. The "law-and-ord'er" parties that have been directing -the Hnngarian, state for 18 years have •" concluded a truce. Prime Miiiister Koloman Daranyi is a pacific, concjliatory statesuian and has succeeded in introducing harmony into Parliament. He has won the confidence of all . the recognized political leaders and their almost unanimous support for his ref orm programme. In factj he has made so many concessions that the oppositiou sometimes supports him ak heartily as many members of his own paxty. At present no recognized group in the, Hungarian Parliament wants to overthrow the Government. V But social lif e is divided into two distinct groups. Eirst, there is a small circle of the elite,; which exercises all authority and enjoys all the privileges; then, the partially disfranehised, largely inarticulate, disorganized masses. These are peasants or workers and are considered decidedly inferior to the others. They form a world apart and are strict]y excluded from politics. .They are thought dangerous. • Now these masses are awakening and individuals "from the upper classes" are stirring them up. A count and his associates are urging these people to revolt. This ref orm crusade is called National Socialism, but its ideas and appeals are almost identical with the slogan of Communisrd. A .rich and aristocratic National Socialist landlord is preaching commuhistic ideas to the dissatisfied peasants. He and his followers are holding nleetings, distributing circulaTs and publishing pamphlets. As might be expected, this fight is' directed especially against the Jews, for it is they who enjoy most of the visible signs of wealth, They own the banks, direct industry,. manage trade and control the streams of profit. It is not difficult for agitators to persuade the embittered country and city workers that it is the "rich Jews" who exploit them. The destitute are urged to seek relief by plundering Jews. This doctrine openly and passionately preached has alrcady caused student outbreaks. On the surface, the situation does not yet seem very serious, but the ' 'upper classes" ar.e troubled because tbe basis of social life in Hungary is unstable. The masses are dispossessed; almost half of the Hungarian people live wretchedly, The influential and conservative Budapesfc paper, Pester Lloyd, constantly speaks of 3,000,000 p»openy-

less peasants. That is more than baif of all the agriculturists. "The situation is not yet preearious," Tibor Echhardt, lcadcr of the Small l1armei,s:' Party, declared, "but," he added, "it deserves aerioas attention. "