DLA019-0100  Translation/transcription

The Prime Minister’s Office

Budapest, 14th March 1930.

My Dear Philip,

It was with great pleasure that I read today in the papers that the Royal Society of British Artists has elected you their President. Please accept my heartiest and sincere congratulations. [From here on, the letter is in English]: It is a great satisfaction for you and all your friends are very happy and pleased, That you got such a rare honour. The Pesti Hirlap reproduced your portraits from Admiral de Horthy [5684] and Mme. De Horthy [10456] on the occasion of the 10th 

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anniversary of His election to Regent of Hungary.^[1] I had to arrange all this [jubilee?] days.

My greatest and most disagreeable work was to place thousand [sic] people in 1000 places in the Opera Gala Performance. I had a great success, because it was a beautiful House. One didn’t see such a House since the Millennium Year. The programme, the [illegible words] of the evening was arranged by Kertész Robert,^[2] by gentlemen of the Cultus-Ministerium. It was rather dull. As Dohnányi^[3] got a number, one had to give one number to Hubay^[4] too. So

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had to give one to Kodály,^[5] and to Bartók.^[6] I got the warm köszönet [thanks] and elismerés [acknowledgement] of the Regent. The Regent got the Annunciate Order from the King of Italy.^[7] The Order was handed through the new Italian Minister of Italy, Mario Tilotta in a special ceremony and Military [Group?]. I collaborated for the success of this ceremony and I got a warm telegram of reconnaissance from the Italian Minister. I spoke with Petrovics.^[8] Now he must make a special wall for your pictures in the Museum. It is a very interesting propaganda

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work of the newspaper, “Magyarság” written in English, Italian and Hungarian and your portrait from Countess [József?] Wenckheim and child [110579] is reproduced. I shall send you this work. Yesterday, Archduchess Isabella^[9] gave a big reception in the Park Club. Everybody was astounded that Archduke Albrecht refused to her [sic] mother to assist to the soirée telling he is not feeling well.^[10] This quite confidential to you. You should congratulate in a letter to the Regent that the King of Italy conferred upon him the most greatest Numerate Order, which was founded in the 14th century. Only sovereigns and very few statesmen (Mussolini got after having been for several years Prime Minister). My best wishes to you and to Dear Lucy.^[11] I spoke with Marczi.^[12] He is well. I hope to come in Mai to Paris and hope to see your pictures in the Palm.

[in the left margin] With best wishes yours very truly

Pista Bárczy

Editorial Note:

István Bárczy de Bárcziháza (1882-1952), Private Secretary to successive Hungarian Prime Ministers, later Permanent Undersecretary of State in the Hungarian Prime Minister’s Office, and close friend of de László; for biographical notes, see [111342].