(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Baron Ludwig Hatvany, Hungarian democratic leader of Jewish origin although not of the Jewish faith, lost his appeal to the Royal Court against the previous sentence of seven years imposed against him for publishing articles abroad attacking the Horthy regime.
The court sentenced Hatvany to four years imprisonment at hard labor, fined him 6,000 pengoes and ordered his property, estimated at about 250,000 pengoes, confiscated.
In handing down the decision, the court dismissed the contention of Hatvany’s counsel that the statute of limitations might be applied in his case. There can be no statute of limitations concerning an offense of the nature of Hatvany’s the court ruled.
The Government contended that Hatvany’s articles, published abroad against the Horthy regime, were calculated to bring about foreign intervention. The request of the defense to release the prisoner on a large bail was rejected. The counsel for Hatvany announced that another appeal to the Royal Kurie will be made.
Hatvany received the sentence in tears. The verdict of the court called forth indignation in liberal Hungarian circles.
Hatvany’s Jewish origin was strongly emphasized during the proceedings. The Government attorney repeatedly referred to this fact and included a reference to Walter Rathenau, late German Jewish statesman who was assassinated by anti-Semites. Rathenau, who was Hatvany’s friend, “drove Germany to misfortune,” the Government attorney exclaimed.
He also questioned the prisoner as to how long he had been a Roman Catholic. “Why did you write in 1923, I am proud to be a Jewish writer?”
Hatvany replied: “Do I deserve imprisonment because I am a republican and a democrat? Do I deserve punishment for believing in President Wilson’s ideals and in desiring that these ideals be applied to Hungary? Is full fledged Magyarism impossible because of one’s Jewish origin?”
Hatvany’s counsel offered to submit proof of his client’s patriotism. It was due to Hatvany’s influence that a great many Hungarian Jews in the provinces annexed by other states remained loyal to Hungarian culture.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
