The Attitude of the Entente Powers to Gyula Peidl’s Government in Hungary (August 1919) – in the Spirit of Distrust, Unwillingness and Information Disorientation

Abstract

On 1 August 1919, the “soviet” government of the Hungarian Republic of Councils was substituted by standard civic cabinet consisting of opposition trade union leaders (so called Gyula Peidl’s trade union cabinet) again. But its life was not long; it was in power only six days. The position of the cabinet was made difficult by the sluggishness of the Paris Peace Conference that did not want to recognize promptly the new Budapest Government and waited for its first steps. But the Entente Powers underestimated their ally, Rumania that made use of the chaotic situation in the country and occupied the capital of Hungary with its army during a few days, in spite of the disapproval of the Entente Powers of further military operations of the Rumanian units in Hungary after the fall of “Kun’s” regime. The insufficient foreign-political support of Peidl’s government, together with the chaotic internal situation in the country, multiplied with the military presence of the Rumanian army in the country, decapitated the post-soviet government finally on 6 August 1919.