Count Csaky's European Tour
The movements of Count Csaky, the Hungarian Foreign Minister, during the last week have aroused the greatest interest. On successive days he saw Herr Hitler at Berchtes- gaden, where he had a long interview, and Count Ciano and Signor Mussolini in Rome ; after a day's respite at Graz in Southern Austria, he returned to Budapest at the beginning of the week, denying the " fantastic stories " that his journeys have inspired. It is believed that Herr Hitler and Herr von Ribbentrop put strong pressure on Count Csaky to bring Hungary into closer alliance with the Axis, and to allow Germany to use Hungary's roads and railways and occupy Ruthenia. If Hungary consented Germany would be able to outflank Poland and strike at her from Ruthenia and at the same time to threaten Rumania There is no evidence that Count Csaky yielded to such demands, and popular opinion in Hungary is certainly opposed to any steps which would mean capitulation to Germany or would endanger Hungarian independence. But Count Csaky is very nearly in the perilous position of certain other unfortunate visitors to Herr Hitler ; despite popular opinion, Hungary has not the strength to resist Germany's demands if Herr Hitler insists that they should be fulfilled.
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