Karolyi Muzzled

The Manhattan press began to murmur, the murmurs were echoed in the Foreign Relations Committee of the Senate. Soon the matter was thoroughly aired in the press, to wit:

Count Michael Karolyi, ex-Premier, ex-President of Hungary and now exile,* came to the U. S. from England a few weeks ago to attend at the bedside of his wife, who was ill of typhoid fever. It became known that in obtaining a visa for his passport, he had promised not to discuss political questions in public during his visit. Meanwhile, the U. S. Hungarian press began to attack him, but he could make no answer. Reporters questioned him and he only made reply: "By my agreement with the State Department, I may not receive reporters."

The press became very excited indeed, exclaimed: "Where is the right /- of free speech?" "What authority has the State Department to impose such an unprecedented restriction?" "England gave him refuge and allowed him free speech--why do we do less?"

The wisdom of the State Department's restriction may be questioned, but its legal authority is less assailable. A great deal of discretion rests with consuls in the granting of visas. A consul has a right to refuse a visa to anyone likely to come into conflict with the laws of the U. S--as, for example, a person who might advocate overthrow of the U. S. Government or the practice of polygamy. It is very dubius whether Count Karolyi, unmuzzled, would do such things.

But it appears that he applied in haste for a visa to come to this country because his wife was ill. The consul in England, doubtless wishing "to play safe" and yet to grant the visa without waiting to consult Washington, agreed to grant it summarily if Count Karolyi would avoid public discussion of political matters--and the Count voluntarily pledged himself to silence.

As for denying the right of free speech, the question is legally not parallel to a case where public discussion might be denied to a person resident in this country; for, if the Count should speak out, he would not be deported for speaking, but for obtaining his visa under false pretenses; that is, under the pretense that he would not speak out.

Just why the State Department does not release the Count from his pledge is not apparent. It is hardly likely that anything he said would start a revolution in this country, or create anything like the furor that has been occasioned by his agreement to keep silent.

Secretary Hughes denied that the pledge of silence was exacted at the request of the Hungarian Minister to this country, declaring simply that Karolyi "having given his pledge, is expected to keep it."

*Count Karolyi is not a communist. Before the end of the War, he was appointed Premier of Hungary by Emperor Charles. He then allowed a Republic to be formed and became, in January, 1919, its first President. He surrounded himself with a group of Radicals, some of whom, a few months later, overthrew him and set up a Communist state under Bela Kun. Count Karolyi then retired from Hungary. When the present reactionary government under Admiral Horthy came into power, his exile was confirmed as a political measure.

/- Congress shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech or of the press . . . ."--U. S. Constitution, Amendment I.