The Rupture in French-Hungarian Relations, 1896-1914

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Abstract (max. 250 words):
Between 1896 and 1914, a rupture in Hungarian-French relations occurred that ultimately manifested itself in the Treaty of Trianon. My paper throws new light on the genesis of this rupture, possibly the most important turning point in recent Hungarian history.

At the turn of the twentieth century, relations between Hungary and France appeared to favor rapprochement. The 1896 Millennium celebration in Budapest reawakened French interest in Hungary. The French had long admired the Hungarians who led the 1848 Revolution, and Madame Adams' “Friends of Hungary” salon, popular in the 1880s, revived in the late 1890s with prominent new members. In Hungary, the Francophile Independence Party, which won the most votes in the January 1905 elections, promoted the idea that Hungary deserved more independence from Austria. Independents wanted a Hungarian note-issuing bank, tariff independence, and more control over the Hungarian army. Dissatisfaction with the Triple Alliance was openly expressed in Budapest. Deputy Gábor Ugron, a leader of the Francophile wing of the Independence Party, discussed with French Minister of Foreign Affairs Theophile Delcassé the possibility of turning “the dual monarchy of the Hapsburgs in the direction of France and Russia.” The French, who viewed Hungary as the 'weak link' in the Triple Alliance, saw an opportunity to draw Hungary into the French sphere of influence.

How did relations between Hungary and France, so promising at the beginning of the century, end so disastrously in World War I and in the treaties thereafter?



Brief Professional Bio (max. 100 words):
Marguerite DeHuszar Allen received her PhD from the University of Chicago. She published a book on the Faust Legend based on her dissertation. She began researching her Hungarian roots in 1999, publishing an essay and article about family members. A Fulbright Scholar Research Grant, Hungary, helped launch her projected book on the history of the Hungarian journal Revue de Hongrie, edited by her grandfather. Her interests focus on twentieth century Europe, including the two world wars and the Hungarian Holocaust. She is an independent scholar affiliated with Northwestern University's Center for International and Comparative Studies, where she has been a Visiting Scholar.