the text - Corvinus Library - Hungarian History

dismemberment, we again shared a Carpathian border with Poland.)
In Warsaw, Horthy's words were greeted with satisfaction, in
Berlin with displeasure. As a consequence, the government
instructed Dome Sztojay, Hungarian minister in Berlin, to clarify to
the German foreign ministry: "...For the time being, Budapest
would like to avoid taking a public stand on Poland for fear of
tightening the Romanian-Polish relationship."*8 Berlin was fully
aware that Hungary will, under no circumstances, support Germany
against Poland. Under Secretary Woerman's declaration, therefore,
came as a reply: "Germany is averse to the declarations of Polish
Hungarian friendship made at the opening of parliament. She would
like her friends to be friends..."*9
Hungarian diplomacy did not refrain even from passing secret
information on to Poland. In July, 1939, Foreign Minister Csaky
declared to Polish Minister Orlowski that he foresees serious
conflicts in German-Polish relations but does not believe war will
ensue. He stressed that Hungary will never take up arms against
Poland, neither in the case of a Polish-German war nor in a world
war. A little later, on July 24, 1939, Pal Teleki addressed two letters
to Hitler delineating Hungarian foreign policy objectives. In the
first, he stated that in case of a general conflict Hungary will attune
her policies to those of the Axis powers. In the second, he
emphasized that "unless a significant change occurs in the present
circumstances, Hungary is morally in no position to enter into armed
conflict with Poland." He held firmly to this position even going so
far as to deny transit to German troops. Hitler flew into a rage;
Ribbentrop tried to apply pressure on Csaky. Although Csaky asked
that Berlin disregard the two letters neither the prime minister nor the
Hungarian diplomats were ever willing to accede to German
demands in the Polish question. *10
As proof, in August 1939, Foreign Minister Istvan Csaky
assured Foreign Minister Jozef Beck of Hungary's neutrality in the
expected German-Polish conflict. She would resist any violation of
her territory with the purpose of attacking Poland. The Foreign
Minister's words were acknowledged with satisfaction in Warsaw.
On the other hand, in Berlin, Deputy Secretary Woerman informed
the Hungarian Minister that "the deliveries of war materiel will be
stoped as long as Hungary's position remains ambiguous."*11
While behind the scenes vigorous preparations took place for the
overrunning of Poland, the press engaged in polemics, the people
26