Miklós Bánffy - They Were Found Wanting

Abady was startled. At that time no one believed in the possibility of war in Europe. Everyone accepted that the race for armaments was just a device of the great powers which was nothing more than a safety-valve used to save everyone’s face. The compliments just lavished on him by this former ‘colleague’ at the Foreign Office made Balint suddenly cautious. Therefore, before giving a direct answer, he felt he needed more information.

‘A war?’ he said. ‘But I thought you were saying after dinner that the Macedonian question had now been settled by Izvolsky?’

‘That is so. And in any case Russia is in no state to make war today. All her supplies have been used up in the Far East and the revolutionary movements are keeping her busy at home. That is why the question is becoming a real threat.’

‘What threat? There is general peace. If Russia can be counted out for some years to come then surely the Serbs too will keep quiet? Romania and Italy are our allies. Which neighbour could possibly attack us?’

Slawata had quickly grasped that he would get no answer from Balint unless he gave him some more information. He paused. Then he pulled up a chair and sat down.

‘This is the situation. Father Czibulka interpreted the problem quite correctly when he analysed the consequences of the Anglo-Russian Agreement. Undoubtedly Italy is already lost to us — and in my opinion Romania too, their sympathies are far too close to St Petersburg. And so we have to think of what will happen in a few years’ time when Russia has been re-armed with French gold. Then the Dual Monarchy will have to face a coalition compounded of Russia, Serbia and Montenegro that will, of course, be backed by Italy and probably Romania, since they all hanker after different parts of our territory. There’ll always be some reason for a war in the Balkans. All this means that the monarchy’s 47 million citizens will have to face quarrel with 182 millions all around them. It is obvious that we could never survive unless someone came to our aid. And if Germany comes galloping along to the rescue they’ll find themselves attacked at once by France and England — France because it would offer a marvellous chance of revanche for 1870 and England because it would be in their commercial interest to destroy the German fleet. It would be a terrible risk for the German Reich to take, especially because of the great resources and remarkable toughness of the English. There is only one solution, and it would have to be put into effect immediately without any hesitation. This is the opinion of Conrad, the Chief of Staff. Germany’s enemies — and our own — would have to be put out of action one by one, starting with Italy who has no fortifications and whose military equipment is far too antiquated to be any use. Ours is too, for that matter,’ added Slawata with a wicked smile, ‘largely owing to Hungarian obstruction, of course; but the Italians are even further behind than we are, so it’s certain we would have an easy task. Therefore my question is this: Where would Hungary stand in these circumstances?’

‘Certainly I assume that Hungary would stand by her obligation, her duty if you will, to contribute to the defence of the monarchy. However it may appear, loyalty to the King is strongly rooted. Of course sympathy with Italy exists too, in no small measure — but as long as our people understood that they were merely fighting a defensive war …’

‘That is most interesting — a defensive war!’ interrupted Slawata. After a moment’s reflection he went on, ‘You are quite right, of course! The incident to be used for declaring war would have to be provoked in Fiume, inside the lands of the Holy Crown …’ and now his voice took on a mocking tone and he emphasized his words with clownish gestures as if to underline the cynical nature of the farce he was proposing. ‘Die Länder der Heiligen Krone , of course! That’s it! That’s how it will be done; and then it will at once become a matter of Hungarian honour! A defensive war in Hungary’s interest! That’s how Hungarian opinion will see it! Sehr gut!Sehr gut! ’

Abady’s expression darkened. It hurt him to hear such a low opinion of his countrymen coming from a foreigner. He cut in, making clear his displeasure, ‘These ideals are sacred to me too. Therefore please do not mock them if you wish us to discuss this calmly!’

‘I’m sorry! I beg your pardon!’ the other said hurriedly. ‘Please do not misunderstand me, I did not mean to mock. Far from it, I picked this out only to show how well I understand the political ideology that is so dear to the Hungarian mind!’

Neither spoke for a little while. Then Balint broke the silence between them. ‘A preventive war? Isn’t that a truly terrible idea? Didn’t Bismarck once say that he would never recommend starting a war only because the enemy might become stronger if he waited — though, of course he was not a sentimental man!’

Slawata shrugged. ‘If you know that you are being stalked by bandits who are eager to kill you, would you not shoot one first before they could surround you and make sure of killing you? It’s just the same situation!’ He paused for a few moments before saying, ‘All Hungary’s problems would be solved by a little war such as I’ve described. Then we would have time really to prepare for the inevitable attack from Russia. And if such a war were to be declared then the Hungarian Parliament would surely pass every estimate for bringing our joint armies up to date?’

Balint did not answer. Slawata’s reasoning filled him with horror even though he recognized its logic. Once again he was felled by his fatal capacity to see both sides of the question. Even when he disagreed from the depths of his soul, he could understand his opponent’s standpoint and his reasons, no matter how alien they might be to his own way of thinking. He had often suffered from this, especially during all the obstructions and upheavals at the time of the Fejervary government; and now, as then, he felt it all with an almost physical pain.

‘And when is all this planned for?’ Balint just managed to get the words out and still remain civil to his guest.

‘Nothing is settled yet. Hoheit — his Highness (he referred to the Heir to the throne) and Conrad both believe this to be the best way. Aehrenthal does not agree. And our revered Lord and Master? Well, of course, he is for peace at all costs. But we’ll prepare the ground, you can be sure of that! Mayor Lüger will raise the subject in his speech at the Radetsky dinner, and his tone towards Italy will be nothing if not belligerent!’

After this they exchanged only a few platitudinous phrases and then Slawata got up to go.

‘Well!’ he said. ‘ Vedremo — we’ll see. Und ich danke für den wertvollen Tip! — and I thank you for a most useful hint!’ Then he disappeared through the door.

‘Thanks for a most useful hint!’ Balint was particularly annoyed by this remark as the fellow seemed to imply that he, Balint, was offering sympathetic advice to the agent of the plotters surrounding the Heir. He was so angry that for a moment he nearly followed Slawata out into the corridor. But he stayed where he was. What would be the point? Slawata was only trying to be polite in his own fashion and the difference between Balint’s bald statement that Hungarian public opinion would only give support to a defensive war and the way that Slawata seemed to interpret this as a useful piece of information and an informed warning, was nothing for him to worry about. And when you studied the matter the difference between them was so slight that even to explain it was almost impossible.

As he stood there in the middle of the room, upset and angry, it seemed to him that everything that had happened that evening somehow formed one cohesive whole. While the other guests had exchanged words in the drawing-room that could be interpreted in many different ways, Balint’s whole attention had been riveted on what they were saying. Now, later on, he found himself shocked by Slawata’s cold cynicism. Alone in his room he was horrified by the thought of war, by the dreadful possibility that a war was not far off in the future, a real war, here in Europe, not just some struggle for a remote colony but a war which could toll the death-knell of nations and which, if lost, would certainly bring about the break-up of the Dual Monarchy. And what price would be paid by his own country, by Hungary, and by his beloved Transylvania which had always stood as a proud fortress on the road from Russia to Constantinople?