HUNGARY.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 April 1919, Page 5

HUNGARY.

WILL FIGHT TO DEFEND INTERESTS. SOVIET WILLING TO BE FRIENDLY. Received April 9, 10 p.m. New York, March 28. The United Press' correspondent at Budapest interviewed Bela Kun, Foreign Minister in the Hungarian Soviet Government, who said: "We are ready to continue peaceful and friendly relations with the Allies, but will fight to defend our just interests."

The correspondent also interviewed Count Karolyi, who declared that the Entente's imperialism was responsible for the change in the Hungarian government.—United Press.

DEPARTURE OF GENERAL SMUTS. HUNGARY'S FREAK UTOPIA. Budapest, April 8. Although authorised to arrange a new armistice with Hungary, General Smuts departed without doing so. British residents are leaving for Paris. The Soviet Government is showing solicitude fpr the bourgeoisie.

London, March 29. The Daily News' Budapest correspondent, describing Hungary's freak Utopia, says that a mob raided the Budapest prison and released the communist, M. Bela Kun. The Soviet Republic was proclaimed half an hour later, and M. Bela Kun was appqinted Minister of Foreign Affairs, and devised the communising of industry. He ordered the bathrooms of all dwellings to be placed at the disposal of all children, the proprietors supplying hot water, soap, and towels. The correspondent interviewed M. Bela Kun, who is 33 years of age. He was formerly Lenin's confidential agent, and says that everyone willing to work Will receive State wages sufficient on which to live decently. He is unconcerned about frontier questions, because he takes his stand on the platform of universal brotherhood. All leadership is to be in the hands of the workers, and rich people will cease to exist.

The correspondent concludes by remarking that hitherto the wealthy and middle classes have not suffered from the upheaval. -Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.