Evening star., 1927-09-04
HUNGARY REPORTED HURT
BY FAILURE OF TREATY
Czechoslovakian State, Profiting by War
Agreement, Is Believed to Be
Instigating New Conflict.

less than fostering sores in the heart
of Europe.
Such conduct is especially odious in
| the case of CZechoSlovakia, for this
state is spoiled child of fortune
Apart from a handful of Czech legion
4, , naires who came over to the Allies,
the Czechs' fought on the side of the
Austrians to the last. 1t was thus
curious freak of fortune which enabled
CZechoslovakia at the end of the cam.
paign to assume the role of trium-
phant conqueror while imposing upon
Hungary that of defenseless victim.
Czechoslovakia owes her independ.
ence, in fact, solely to the philan-
thropy of Great Britain. France, Italy
and the United States, and if she has
any perception of her own interests
she will take care not to lose the good
will of the peoples of these countries.
The position of this postwar repub.
lie is by no means secure. In domes-
tic affairs, the mixed elements OF
which it is mpounded-CZechs, Slo-
vaks, Hungarians, Germans. Moray
ians, Poles and Ruthenes-are so an.
tagonistic to each other that the dis
appearance of the state by sudden dis.
integration from within is always
possibility In this way she consti-
tutes the powder magazine of Europe.
From the report in circulation 1t looks
as if anything may happen in Czecho-
slovakia at any time. An overnight
revolution might remove her from
the map of Europe as an independent
state.
One thing is certain-Czechoslov
cannot continue her present policy of
exploitation of her subject popula-
tions, whether they be Hungarian,
NJ "a ~
nationalities. BY doing so she will
affront the public opinion of the
world, and this is risk no modern
state dare incur.
The Czechoslovak government must
soon make a momentous decision.
Will it elect to stand upon the evasion
and perversion of the Treaty of Tri-
anon, or will it follow counsels of rea-
son and justice by saying to Hungary,
1--WE do not wish to retain within our
frontiers compact blocks of Hun.
garian population against their will,
and we agree to a revision by plebis-
cite Of our frontiers in this respect"
Revision and Reimbursement.
II such a rectification could be
brought about, I should recommend
that Hungary reimburse Czechoslo-
Treaty Of Trianon upon the retro.
ceded territory, and for loss of en-
ployment on the part Of CZechoslovak
public functionaries, but there must
be a set.off in shape of adequate COM
pensation to Hungarian nationals who
have been wrongfully dispossessed OF
their properties.
The idea of an independent Czecho.
slovakia first reached the minds OF
the masses Of the western nations
through the Daily Mail and its asso-
ciated newspapers, and / very much
doubt whether, except for the pub
licity thus given, Czechoslovakia, as
we know it today, would have had
any existence.
M. Masaryk, President of Czecho-
slovakia, was during the war highly
esteemed member of the stan OF con-
tributors to these papers. am con-
vinced that President Masaryk him.
self is not satisfied with the present
position in regard to the Hungarian
minorities in his country, for 1T Is
stated in the August Fortnightly Re.
view that in recent treatise, entitled
"The New Europe" he envisages re-
vision of the present frontiers OF
Czechoslovakia.
/ cannot do better than quote his
exact words. He wrote:
"The settlement of ethnographic
boundaries after the storm of war
will possibly be provisional in some
cases. As soon as the nations quiet
down and accept the principle Of self
determination, a rectiflcation Of ethno.
graphic boundaries and minorities
will be carried out without excite
ment and with due consideration of
all questions involved"
: l was one of those who welcomed
the erection Of CZechoslovakia into
an Independent state, and ] should be
sorry to see that country forfeit con-
fidence which allied nations placed in
it. 1 realize. as every thinking man
must, the standing danger to Euro
pean peace of allowing Czechoslovakia
to remain an exposed political powder
magazine.
Two years ago decided to draw
attention to the perils of the present
position, but then determined to
wait until the Treaty Of Trianon had
been in operation seven full years, SO
that whatever adjustments were es-
sential could take place in the calm
atmosphere of mature reflection.
have some hope the Czechoslovaks
will see how plainly to their own in.
What / claim for Hungary is no
more than elementary justice. The
idea of return to her pre-war from
tiers is out Of the question. Hungary
must pay the penalty of defeat. But
that Is no reason for infficting upon
her such wrongs as the war was ex-
pressly waged to abolish.
Hungary's righteous" Claim.
She has a perfectly righteous and
reas asonable claim to recover the terri
tories preponderantly inhabited by
Hungarians, which as a result Of the
Treaty of Trianon at present lie just
across her frontiers, cut off from all
intercourse with her by every device
the malevolence of her neighbors can
invent.
This state Of things is an outrage to
an ancient and splendid people with a
history of high endeavor extending
over a thousand years. 1t Is funda.
mentally wrong and it cannot endure.
There is time now to right 1t peace
ably and effectively. IL we continue
to close our eyes to the evil. it will
keep alive the spirit of hatred and hos
tility in Central Europe, with the in.
evitable result of disastrous war.
Are we so blind as to let the ele-
ments of another terrible conflict ac
cumulate unchecked? 1t is the duty
( OF Britain, France and Italy. as the
| members Of the League of Nations
primarily responsible for the present
situation, to take steps to give Hun
gary the relief to which she Is en-
titled. Their generosity in this matter
will not be abused. They will be deal
| ing with a nation which. though small,
has a character and traditions second
| to none.
repeat that Hungary is the natural
ally of Britain, France and Italy in
Central Europe. Even during the war
she showed her natural good feeling
toward Britain and the United States
by refusing to intern her British or
| rrrI,