In Hungary are many different currents of feeling—­but the moment that Vienna prepared to sacrifice any part of Hungary, the whole country would rise as one man against such action.  In that respect there was no difference between him—­Tisza—­and Karolyi.  Tisza alluded to Karolyi’s attitude before the Roumanian declaration of war, referred to the attitude of Parliament, and said that if peace were to be made behind Hungary’s back she would separate from Austria and act independently.

I replied that there was no question either of separating from Germany or of ceding any Hungarian territory, but that we must be quite clear as to what we had to guard should we be carried further through the German lust of conquest.

Thereupon Tisza pointed out that the situation was different.  It was not known for certain what had been determined at the conference in London (the protocol had not then been published), but that Hungarian territory was promised to Roumania was just as certain as that the Entente was planning to intervene in Hungarian internal affairs, and both contingencies were equally unacceptable.  Were the Entente to give Hungary a guarantee for the status quo ante and to desist from any internal interference it would alter the situation.  Until then he must declare against any attempt at peace.

The conversation as it proceeded became more animated, owing particularly to my accusing him of viewing all politics from a Hungarian point of view, which he did not deny, though he maintained that the dispute was a mere platonic one, as the Entente peace terms appeared to be such that Austria would be left with much less than Hungary.  I was also first to state the terms under which we could make peace; then only would it be seen whether extreme pressure brought to bear on Germany were advisable or not.  There was no sense in Germany’s advocating peace if she intended to continue fighting.  For Germany was fighting above all for the integrity of the Monarchy, which would be lost the moment Germany laid down her arms.  Whatever German politicians and generals said was of little consequence.  As long as England remained bent on satisfying her Allies with our territory, Germany was the only protection against these plans.

Tisza had no desire for conquest beyond a frontier protection from Roumania, and he was decidedly opposed to the dismemberment of new states (Poland); that would be to weaken not to strengthen Hungary.

After a lengthy discussion we agreed to bind ourselves to the following policy: 

  (1) So long, as the determination made at the conference in
        London, i.e. the destruction of the Monarchy, continues to
        be the Entente’s objective, we must fight on in the certain
        hope of crushing that spirit of destruction.

  (2) But as our war is purely a defensive war, it will on no
        account be carried on for purposes of conquest.