Correspondence
A LETTER FROM BUDAPEST. [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sin,—So much has happened in or near Hungary during the last six months that it is difficult to know where to begin. It will perhaps be more convenient to begin like a crab and go sideways, or rather, backwards. The latest event to touch all Hungary is the death of Cardinal Archbishop Chernoch, the Prince Primus. The son of a poor Slovak, his rise to the highest position in the Hungarian Church goes to show that at least in one walk of life the peasant had as good a chance as the noble. The Archbishop of Kolaesa belongs to the noble family of Zichy, but the late Bishop Prochaska was also a Slovak of no special family, but of a blameless character who died as he lived, a poor man, noble in poverty and poor though noble. The late Prince Primus was rich but bountiful in his riches, and his death, like that of Bishop Prochaska, has called forth eulogies from all quarters. It is significant that both these ecclesiastical dignitaries should have been of Slovak origin, and it is said the Primus in his last hours expressed a wish that the fact of his origin should be made known to the outside world.
Then naturally the letter of Lord Rothermere and his subsequent communications have caused the greatest excite- ment all over the country. Such a thing as a newspaper magnate is unknown in Hungary, and perhaps the mere fact of a " lord" having taken upon himself to intervene on behalf of Hungary, as against her neighbours, has made an impression upon Hungarians generally which is not warranted. That the idea of a revision of the hated treaty of Trianon has " caught on" was to be expected, and already we read of the formation of a Revision League to give information on the subject to all those favourably interested. England has become very popular in all parts of the country.
Roads are being relaid in Budapest, tramlines taken up, houses building. The river steamers are crowded, trains at cheap fares running to the great Lake Balaton, where half the town is rusticating and yachting. Magnates are at their country places, while the acting Prime Minister, Dr. Vass, has been assaulted by a madman armed with a stick, happily with no evil result. Great festivities are being prepared for St. Stephen's Week, beginning on August 20th.
The Stock Exchange, though nearly dead, every now and then seems to wake up. Banks are expected to issue half- yearly balance sheets, and one of the most important has already done this. The harvest is now likely to be better than last year, both in quality and quantity. The Commercial Agree- ment made with Czecho-Slovakia is now in force, with the probable result that the very large adverse balance in the foreign trade will become still greater, and the Customs yield diminish. Still, the feeling of optimism does not grow less, and signs of improved business arc everywhere apparent. Thus the number of unemployed has dropped to thirteen thousand, which is less than half the number in June, 1926.
—I am, Sir, &c., YOUR BUDAPEST CORRESPONDENT.
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