Instead of this, M. Tisza, the Hungarian Premier, speaking to
the Deputies who congratulated him on New Year's Day, refused to say anything of a decidedly hopeful kind. The finances would be put right, he said, if the general situation of Europe allowed it ; but "this condition is one which nobody can guarantee. I am not one of those who regard the danger of war as imminent; even now I hope that it may be averted. I am convinced that Hungary and Hungarian public opinion will never provoke a war, but I am equally certain that, should war be forced upon us, Hungary will be found at her
post. More than that I cannot and will not say, because I do not consider myself justified in speaking in the tone of the pessimists. Although my hopes are improving, I hold it to be also a mistake to spread a feeling of optimism, because it often paralyses the resisting force which we, though I hope not, may possibly still need." The Hungarians, no doubt, wish war; but M. Tisza would speak very differently if peace were at all assured.
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