Victory at Debrecen

In Hungary, Russia last week chalked up another political victory. While Budapest was in flames (see WORLD BATTLEFRONTS), the Moscow radio announced a new Hungarian National Provisional Government at Debrecen, 120 miles to the east. It promptly promised an early armistice and administration of the conquered three-fourths of Hungary, on the pattern of Rumania and Bulgaria.

As in the Balkan nations, Russia with a political foreknowledge the democratic nations could not hope to duplicate, was able to assure herself of a friendly and apparently representative Government in Hungary. Its 230-man National Assembly had Communists and Social Democrats, but it also had men of the Peasant League and the National Bloc (of Liberals and Conservatives), whom Russia presumably had scrutinized long since.

Head of the Government was Colonel General Bela Miklos de Dalnok, 56, former commander of the Hungarian First Army who went over to the Russians with his staff last October after Regent Nicholas Horthy's ill-fated try for an armistice. Among his ministers: an author and student of agrarian reform; a history professor jailed by Horthy for "subversive activities" ; a geology professor and cousin of Count Paul Teleki, ex-Premier who committed suicide in April 1941. Notably absent was Hungary's top Communist, Matyas Rakosi, sixtyish, stout ex-commissar in the Communist Government of Bela Kun after World War I, later vice president of the Comintern. Rakosi presumably was in Moscow.

First aim of the new Government was an armistice with Russia, the U.S. and Britain, and the deal was reported already in preparation. First step was war against Germany. For the future, land reforms were promised. Abolition of anti-Jewish laws had already been proclaimed for the freed areas.

Not all Hungarians expected the new Government to be permanent. In London, tall, limping Count Michael Karolyi who heads a Hungarian Council in Britain, welcomed the Debrecen regime, but hopefully characterized it as "for the transition period." But Moscow's formula at Debrecen might be the beginning of permanency. By knowing the people (thanks to the help of the Communist Party) and having its Army on the ground in impressive force, Russia had scored again.

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