UNREST IN HUNGARY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17280, 22 September 1916, Page 7

UNREST IN HUNGARY.

' DESIRE FOR PEACE. . My Hungarian informant reports & considerable political crisis in Hungary (writes A. Beaumont, from Milan, to the London “ Daily Telegraph ” on July 13)’, but what the ultimate result will be cannot yet .be foreseen. It is difficult to estimate what aro the exact aims of the formidable Opposition led by Count Julius Andrassy, to some extent supported by Count Michael Karoiyi, of the Independence Party, and other leaders oi smaller groups. News is received to-day from Berne that Count Julius Andrassy is about to become Austro-Hungarian Minister for Foreign Affairs, in succession to Count Burian. who is to retire.

'Two weeks ago 1 was informed that Count Andravssy. had paid a furtive visit to Switzerland, which I doubted at tho time, but now my information is confirmed from Berne. Count ' Andrassy was seen there by many who know him personally. What his object was is a mystery, but immediately after-his departure articles were supplied from duligarians in Switzerland to a Swiss paper, and hints were also sent to mo that Hungary should be assisted to break loose from Austria. Hungarians wanted nothing less than liberation of the country from the Austrian incubus, and termination of the war, which they were made to fight only in the interests of Austria and Germany. Amid indescribable tumults in the .Hungarian Chamber, deputies cried out,. asking why Hungary should continue to fight in this war. The-desire ..was also expressed that Hungary should become independent of Austria, and. that it should form a separate nation entirely, with strictly Hungarian territory only, comprising a population of irom 12,000,000 to. 15,000,000 souls, and living its national life in peace.and quiet, apart from the ambitions of other European nations. The last speech, of Count Andrassy m tho Hungarian Chamber was against tlio Government but in favour of the union of all parties, with the ideas, of the present Opposition, however, prevalent, and these ideas are for speedy and, if necessary, drastic conclusion of peace. He insisted that the Opposition should -bo taken into the Government’s confidence, _ and that a deputation of Opposition members should be received by the Emperor Francis Joseph, to lay their desiderata personally before him as King of Hun--gary—all which points Qount Tisza yielded. His reply to tbte second demand was rather strange. He said he would certainly consent to the deputation seeing the King. It would, be criminal, lie added, for any Government to prevent subjects from approaching their Sovereign, blit it is not known whether ho spoke ironically or with some object in vio\f\ Invniediatfr* ly afterwards some members of the Opposition declared they did not care whether the King received them or not. Tho rumoured appointment of Count Andrassy as' Minister for Foreign Affairs can only bo taken as another concession to the Opposition, and oyer it all hovers the mystery of "Ins visit to Switzerland. Persons who saw'him there state that ho came on an official mission to examine the ground once more and see if a separate peace between France and Germany were not possible. France once more indignautfy rejected any overtures not addressed to the Allies collectively, and Count Andrassy, who bad honed as a patriotic Hungarian to act as peacemaker, returned. to Budapest disappointed, liko so many before him. The Allies null only make peace when Germany and Austria ask for it—not when they offer it.