Abstract
The proposed peace agreement between Allied and affiliated powers, on the one hand, and Hungary, on the other, was received by the Hungarian peace delegation on 15 January 1920. The final version of the Hungarian peace agreement was received nearly four months later on 6 May, respectively 5 May 1920.
Budapest was required to inform the Peace Conference as to whether Hungary would sign the treaty or not by 21 May. From the outset, the decision-making process of the Hungarian cabinet as well as the position of the Hungarian peace delegation were controlled by the country's central political authorities, namely those in charge of formulating foreign policy decisions regarding peace issues.
Among these individuals was the foreign minister, Count Teleki, under whose direction secret French-Hungarian negotiations were taking place as well as the head of the Hungarian peace delegation, Apponyi. From the outset, regent Miklós Horthy de Nagybánya was in favor of accepting the peace treaty.
The policy of Hungary's leading politicians emanated from the secret French-Hungarian discussions led by the foreign minister of which most cabinet members remained unaware. The key issue in discussions that followed was who would sign the treaty.
Would it be Apponyi's peace delegation or would the peace delegation resign and leave the decision to the government? This was a procedural matter that needed to be decided so that Hungary could reply to the Peace Conference. In the end, the peace delegation did not sign the treaty and the government concurrently expressed its willingness to accept it.
This decision was announced on the date by which Hungary was required to reply and not a day earlier as the government had resolved on 18 May.