A MISREPRESENTED STATESMAN

Hokitika Guardian, 30 June 1928, Page 4

A MISREPRESENTED STATESMAN

NEW LIGHT ON COUNT TISZA

(By Sir Robert Donald G.8.E., LL.IX)

Letters written by the late Count Tisza, published in Berlin ( Graf Stefan Tisza: Brief©,” Volume 1. Reiinnr Hobbiilg,) in the first year of the war, throw fresh light on the origins of the war and particularly on the attitude of Hungary. They reveal the mentality and re-establish the reputation of Count Tisza, who has been the most misrepresented of all war statesmen.

I made the acquaintance of Count Tisza in-January 1914. He was then ut the zenith of his powers and inti nonce, not only as Premier of Hungarv, but as a guiding force in tb- 1 politics of the Dual Monarchy. Tisza was the strong man of Hungary. He was a Calvinist in religion, a Libera! in polities, a Cromwellian in action. “I am a Liberal.” be t„ld me. “of tbe school of Gladstone. I love and admire England and seek to adopt her institutions in my country, but we are -19 years behind you. England is surrounded hv the protective sea, while we are encompassed ’ey jealous foes, aucl must perpetually stand at attention.”

At this time Hungary had not yet recovered from the repercussions of the Balkan wars and was faced with a hostile Balkan block'. Tisa was wrestling with obstructive minorities in Parliament and was looking forward to some method of devolution which would have consolidated the kingdom. IN A MINORITY OK ONE.

When the tragedy of Sarajevo threatened to start another war Tisza was the one statesman of the Central Powers who did everything lie could lo avert tho calamity. On July 1. 191-1, having learned of the intentions of Berehtold. the Austro-Hungarian Foreign Alinister, to send an ultimatum to Serbia, be wrote to tbe King Emperor to say that: This would he a mistake leading to a catastrophe. There are at tbe pro - out. time no sufficient grounds to bold Serbia responsible and to provoke a war with this country against the chances of satisfactory explanations tbe Serbian Government might eventually offer. TTio Monarchy would appear before tbe whole world ns a disturber of tho peace and would start a great war under the most un favourable conditions.

When lie could not stop the ultimatum Tisza tried to got it modified. When be failed again and bis courtly was drifting inevitably into war be asked on July 19, 1914. for a d - duration against Ibe annexation of territory should tbe Central Powers |,<* victorious. lip urged tbe aceep tauco of Lord Grey’s offer of mediation. He was overruled and bad only (lie satisfaction of being in a minority of one in the Council of Minister? who took the fatal plunge. The war lords of Vienna and Berlin defeated the statesman. Vet he was ihe only man ol vision who rep re: uilcd Hie Central Powers'. Tie foresaw that whether- the Empirelost or won in the mighty conliie; which was begun Hungary would lo.se. If they were defeated Hungary would be sacrificed; if they won Hungary would Ire placed under the Germani. bogemonv which be bad been light •*: ■ all his life. DEFIANT I! OF lIiNDKXBVKG.

Tisza never lost an opportunity <4 seeking to compromise and eiid the war before* it had run its disastrous course. lie poured letters into the Foreign Office in Vienna, malting suggestions, offering advice, sometimes in insistent or peremptory tones. He v.’as against any compromise vvitn Rumania. He wrote to Berehtold on October 1, 1911, saying that “tbe peaceful occupation of Transylvania by Rumania under any conceivable circumstances and conditions whatever is out of tbquestion.’- 1 He defied Hindenburg, who also wanted to compromise with Rumania.. Rumania, be said, did not want to improve the lot of the Hungarian Rumanians but to annex Transylvania and Bukovina.

On April 27. 1915, he wrote to Buriaii, the Hungarian Alinister in Vienna: If it should become apparent that we cannot cope with the Italians we should, without awaiting their offensive, approach the Entente with a peace offer. . . What will happen if, despite all our efforts to prevent it, war should break out with Italy within four weeks? In my opinion we should then have to give up hope of victory, throw a considerable array on to the Italian # and Rumanian frontier, and ask tbe Entente for

peace. PROTEST OVER SUBAFA'RINES. Tisza gave another example of prescience in bis protest against tbe pulicy of unrestricted submarine warfare, which lie said would bring tho United States into the war against tho Central Powers.

The great statesman resigned before the end of the war and was assassinated by Communists a few weeks before tho Armistice, when his country was drifting into anarchy. Tho one man who could have preserved order in the country and made a just peace calmly allowed himself to be sacrificed as be neither sought refuge nor attempted to defend himsell. This volume of letters, and others which are to follow, will vindicate Tisza before tho bar of history both as a sagacious statesman and the greatest Hungarian of Ins time.