Opposition grows against Otto in Hungary

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 July 8, 1930 

 The New York Times today reports on the "latest developments in Hungary" regarding the status of Archduke Otto, who will soon "come of age." A few weeks ago "well-informed circles" in Hungary predicted that Otto, the eldest son of the late Emperor Karl, would be placed in the Hungarian throne after reaching his majority. This now appears to be unlikely, as there appears to be a "determined resistance" to a monarchy in Hungary. 

 Opposition to a restoration comes from two sources in the "Protestant peasants," under the leadership of Bishop Desiderius Balthazar, and the "free electors," who were involved in keeping Emperor Karl from regaining his throne. Captain Julius Gombos, one of Karl's captors in 1921, and now Hungary's Minister of war, was quoted in a newspaper interview stating he was "unalterably opposed to Otto's enthronement." 

"I stand fast by what I did in 1921, and I am now and forever against the continuation of the legitimist principle." Gombos said he was for a "free popular choice of King of Hungary." but the time was not right for "such a selection." "Inherited monarchies are now as antiquated as Parliaments. The best of our citizens should stand at the head of the nation. 

 he fear of a dictatorship is a theme of false democracy. If we made Otto King of Hungary that would only be a beginning. How long would it be before the Austrian legitimists would also undertake a 'putsch' and call Otto back to Vienna? Neither Germany nor Italy, not to speak of the Little Entente, would favor such a development. Another objection against Otto is that he is only 18 years of age. He has had no experience and would be ruled by a court camarilla. In Hungary, we need no camarilla, but a strong hand."