Dorothy Thompson

Washington Post/November 1, 1921

Budapest, Oct 25 (Delayed)—I had tea at Esterhazy castle yesterday afternoon with former Emperor Charles and former Empress Zita and heard from the lips of the king and the members of his entourage the full story of his unsuccessful attempt to regain the iron crown of St. Stefan and the collapse of the last hope of the Hapsburgs. I also transmitted a reassuring message from the royal couple to their children in Switzerland telling them they will not have to worry.

“Maybe the public opinion of the world believes I am responsible for this war, but I would not spill a drop of Hungarian blood for a thousand thrones,” said Charles. “The resistance of my own people was something for which I could not be prepared. Surely the world knows I made no attempt to enter Budapest by force of arms, that, on the contrary, I ordered my forces, who came not as a conquering army but as bodyguards of honor, not to fire. When Col Ostenburg reported that in order to proceed we should have to fight our way I ordered him to withdraw. My one regret is for the lives which have been lost and for the men who are wounded.”

King and Queen Calm

Against my expectation, neither king nor the queen looked haggard or discouraged. On the contrary, they were the most self-possessed of the whole group, which included Count Andrassy, whose frailness was accentuated to transparency, former Foreign Minister Gratz, concealing perturbation under his usual amiability, and M. Rakovsky, former president of the national assembly, plunged into heavy gloom.

The slight, boyish figure of the king was clothed in a Hungarian general’s uniform. Zita was slender, pale and dark-eyed in her plain navy silk costume. The fastidious Count Andrassy, in soiled linen, was complaining of having had to go four days without a change.

How I was able to traverse the 8 kilometers, from Budapest to Tata castle, which was barricaded at every village, and to pass soldiers occupying the town, and to enter the castle’s great iron gate, guarded by officers and soldiers, is a story I am not permitted to tell.

In Medieval Castle

The castle is a medieval stronghold, surrounded by a moat filled with water, upon which swans were swimming. I mistook the porter in gold lace watching the gate for a general.

For the first 20 minutes of my stay with the king and his party it was almost impossible to ask any questions, for my companion and myself were the first persons to penetrate the cordons of guards cutting off the royal party from all communication with the outside world. Question upon question was poured upon me.

“Why did the government resist? Is it true that all the persons loyal to the king are to be severely punished?”

When we were seated at the tea table the king, who seemed not to share the general anxiety, and whose chief concern seemed to be to dissipate the impression that he tried to fight his way to the throne and to regain the crown by bloodshed, made the above statements. The rest of the king’s and queen’s conversation was not for publication.

Tell About Last Stand

After Charles and his consort had withdrawn to their own apartments, amid the courtly ceremonials of the little handful of disheveled courtiers and fellow prisoners, who tried to maintain, even in utter defeat, the old procedure of the Hapsburg court, M. Rakovsky, M. Gratz and the ladies-in-waiting recounted the story of the last stand of the Hapsburgs in their thousand-year kingdom.

The little group, gathered around the tea table in a handsome room, through the windows of which one looked across lakes and hills, of the finest estate in Hungary, believed at any rate that the events of the last few days have ended all hopes of restoration.

“I received word in Budapest Wednesday night that the king was coming,” said Gratz, “and on Thursday I proceeded to West Hungary. None of us knew what course events would take but all were legitimists and obeyed the king’s call. Late Thursday night the king and queen completed their 700-mfIe air ride from Lucerne and arrived at Denesfalva where Count Andrassy was attending the christening of his grandchild. Count and Countess Andrassy had idea the king was arriving and failed to recognize their majesties who greeted them from the garden.”

Thought Queen Was Cook

“I thought the queen was the cook,” interjected Count Andrassy, smiling dryly.

“Rakovsky and I,” continued M. Gratz, “reached Denesfalva on Thursday and that night we came with the king to Oedenburg. Col. Ostenburg had not expected him so soon and had no place for him to sleep, so their majesties spent the night sitting on stools in the barracks. Col Ostenburg’s troops Immediately took the oath of allegiance to the king in impressive ceremonial. The presence of the king in Oedenburg became known late Friday afternoon and amid friendly demonstrations we started for Budapest on Saturday morning at 4 o’clock, the king and queen having passed the night in a railroad coach.

“I had to lend the queen my nightgown,” interrupted the Countess Esterhazy, Col Ostenburg’s fiancée and lady in waiting to the queen, a passionate young woman who, alone in the entire company, constantly made bitter remarks about the disloyalty of the government to its king.

“We reached Raab Saturday afternoon without any difficulty,” continued Gratz. “At every station troops came out swearing their allegiance and greeting their majesties with flowers. At Raab we received our first telegram from Regent Horthy advising us not to proceed further. The queen particularly was anxious to go on, none of us believing the telegram meant military action.

“All of us had every reason to think the contrary. The tracks at Komorn were torn up by government orders, but were easily repaired and troops supposedly unfriendly took the oath of allegiance to the king. Late Saturday night we arrived at Torragyr, where the hospital train bearing their majesties halted while Col Ostenburg took the first train with troops ahead, having received word that the way was clear.

“We had four trains with troops, two ahead and two behind the king’s. Our first knowledge of Admiral Horthy offering armed resistance came with the sound of guns. Their majesties were shocked but calm, awaiting Ostenburg’s report.

Met Machine Gun Fire

“Col. Ostenburg returned to Torbagyon Sunday at midnight and reported that the king’s men were met with machine gun fire at Budacers, only ten kilometers from Budapest, but had held on, only retreating two kilometers. Gen Hegedus, the same night, brought word that the government had asked for an armistice. The king said, ‘Let us not attack. I am not here to fight my own people.'”

“Hegedus sold us over,” cried the flushed young lady in waiting. Her words were received with dismayed silence by the more discreet company. Gratz continued.

“It is not true that our forces scattered Sunday night. We were still in a strong position, but in spite of the armistice the attacks continued during the next day. Col. Ostenburg rode up to the king on Monday at noon saying, ‘Your majesty, shall we fight?’ And his majesty replied with an unqualified ‘No,’ and then began the retreat and pursuit. The king was not deserted by his officers as was stated. Apprehensive over their fate and believing no one would lay hands on his majesty’s person, Charles begged them for his sake to save themselves

Fired On Train

“The hospital train, with their majesties aboard was fired upon and the queen almost hit. At Tata we could go no further because the rails had been torn up by Hegedus. We were forced to remain here and Countess Esterhazy offered us refuge in this castle, which is surrounded and where he remains imprisoned.

“Col. Ostenburg wanted to remain at the king’s side,” broke in his fiancée. “But his majesty said, ‘I cannot afford to lose all my best men.’ So Col. Ostenburg said he would attempt to escape. I said, ‘Then I shall go with you.’ We fled to the hills, seeking shelter, and walked all night. The light of a pocket searchlight, with which he studied a map, revealed our course to soldiers who arrested us when we halted at a woodcutter’s hut. I was proud of my fiance.

“The arresting officer asked, ‘Are you Maj. Ostenburg?’’ My fiance replied. ‘No, sir; Col. Ostenburg, so appointed by his majesty, and I’ll brain you if you call me major.’

Anxious About Colonel.

Apprehensions about the fate of Col. Ostenburg was the chief concern of the prisoners.

“Will they execute him?” asked of the party.

“Impossible,” ejaculated one of ladies.

“All Hungary is royalist and half is pro-Karlist. The members of the government themselves assert the legality of the king’s position. They can not act against us “

“Yes they can,” remarked the wise Count Andrassy drily from his corner.

At this juncture a knock at the door and the youngest Countess Esterhazy burst into the room.

“They are going to send their majesties away alone tonight and imprison them in the lonely monastery on Balaoen,” she cried, bursting into tears. In the midst of the confusion caused by this announcement came a message from Zita, who was already preparing for her departure.

It requested that we should post the following telegram to her children addressed to her eldest son by his title, which even in defeat she was not willing to omit.

“Crown Prince Otto, Castle Hartenstein, Luzerne, Switzerland. We are all well. Please do not worry. We embrace you tenderly. MAMA.”