HUNGARY'S STAND

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 132, 1 December 1938, Page 26

HUNGARY'S STAND

CZECH MINORITY ISSUE

Hungarian revisionists' claims have risen to fever heat under the stimulus of Reichfuhrer Hitler's success in his demands for the Sudeten districts of Czechoslovakia, telegraphed Charles Lovik, foreign editor of "Az Est," from Budapest to the "Chicago Tribune" at the end of September.

For twenty years the,existence of a Hungarian minority of nearly 750,000 in Czechoslovakia has been a sore spot for Hungary. The official view is that in ca?e of a world war Hungary will remain neutral, as Foreign Minister Koloman de Kanya often has stated. The Hungarians^ however, want that minority back, and are determined to get it.

The argument in Budapest is that since the justice of Hitler's demands is admitted by the British and French, there is no legitimate excuse for not handing over the Hungarians of Czechoslovakia to Hungarian rule.

Hungary is weaker than Germany and wants to get a settlement by peaceful means. There still is the possibility, nevertheless, that Hungary will fight.

For twenty years Hungary, called by Premier Mussolini "the cripple of the Great War," has been unable to demand the return of this minority, across the border, which was established by the Trianon Treaty, after' the World War. The sudden eruption of the German demands for the Sudetens brought the whole situation into the limelight.

The Slovaks, Ruthenians, and Poles in Czechoslovakia put forward their claims . through national parties in Czechoslovakia. . Now the Hungarian and Polish Governments have added their demands that the respective minorities get full rights.

Only treatment identical with that given the Sudeten Germans will be satisfactory. Dr. Bela Imredy, Hungarian Prime Minister, flew to Berchtesgaden, Germany, as soon as it was known that Hitler's demands were making headway. He asked the Fuhrer to get the same treatment for the Hungarians as was secured for the German minority.

Accompanied by Foreign Minister Kanya and General Keresztes-Fischer, Chief of Staff, he set forth the case. The radiant smiles of these men upon their return backed up their report that the Fuhrer had given them reason to expect satisfaction. In agreement with Hungary, the Polish Government announced to Prague the next day that Warsaw had cancelled the 1926 Polish-Czech minority treaty, and claimed for the Polish minority all the rights accorded the Sudetens.

Hungary followed up with a warning to Prague that Hungary would not take less than the others were getting.

In addition to its contacts with Germany and Poland in connection with its demands, Hungary had approached Rome. There was quick response there. Premier Mussolini demanded equal rights for the Hungarians.

In view of the newest developments, all this means that th^ Hungarians will not be satisfied unless all the territories containing 75 per cent. Hungarians are handed over to Budapest. » In other areas they want a plebiscite wherever there is a Hungarian minority.