DLA019-0192 Transcription

THE DAILY MAIL, LONDON.

Editorial Department,

Northcliffe House, E.C.4.

December 10, 1930.

P. A. Laszlo de Lombos, Esq.

3 Fitzjohns Ave, N.W.3.

Dear Mr. Laszlo,

I wish to inform you that, on Mr. Szarvasy’s behalf, I have completed the purchase of your Rakosi portrait [6729] for the Hungarian nation in Budapest.^[1] Mr. Szarvasy has now signed the letter of offering to Count Klebelsberg^[2] and the story will, in a few days time, find its way into the Hungarian press. On your expressed wish your name was nowhere mentioned and will not be brought in any connection with this transaction.

From the telegram of Mr. Ward Price you already know that your portrait of Lord Rothermere was especially admired at the banquet in the Ritz.^[3] We had some difficulties to surmount before we got the picture on view and we had to contract an insurance of 20.000 Pengo for that single night. Such handicap, however, did not deter us in the least and we had full satisfaction for all our trouble in the delight of our guests.

[Page 2]

I think I owed you telling this for the help you have given in both matters. I may add yet that your portrait of Rakosi will be handed over to Count Klebelsberg, on Mr. Szarvesy’s behalf, by Albert Berzeviczy.^[4]

Yours very sincerely

Dr. Nandor Fodor,

Geraldine House,

Fetter Lane. E.C.4.

SMDL

17/06/2018

[1]Jenő Rákosi (1842–1929) died a few months after the completion of his portrait [6729]. Apparently on de László's initiative, the portrait was purchased from the Rákosi family by Sándor Szarvassy, a banker of Hungarian origin and chairman of the British Foreign & Colonial Corporation, who offered it to the Hungarian Nation. The arrangements were made through Nándor Fodor (b. 1895), Hungarian journalist on the staff of the Daily Mail and active in the Trianon revisionist movement.

[2] Count Kunó von Klebelsberg de Thumburg (1875–1932), Hungarian politician

[3] See related item DLA032-0075, letter from Géza Paur to de László, 28 November 1930

[4] Albert Berzeviczy (1853–1936) [110804], Hungarian politician