OCCUPATION OF RUTHENIA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23828, 7 June 1939, Page 6

OCCUPATION OF RUTHENIA

/THE .HUNGARIAN VIEWPOINT JUSTIFICATION CLAIMED AN INTERESTING ANGLE '. An interesting angle on the recent occupation .by Hungary of Ruthenia, that portion Of Czechoalovakia which originally formed part (if Hungary before the war, is provided in a letter received recently by a Dunedin resident from a friend in Budapest. The letter, which is published in its original form, is as follows: ' '/' "Insupportable Situation" "In the summer (in New Zealand the winter) of the past year, very, important events happened here in Central Europe that interested us also very much. In summer the situation-be-tween Germany and Czechoslovakia became' very full of tension and the oppression of the German population in Czechoslovakia (about 3,500,000 inhabitants in the Sudeten - land) became always greater than was>:ever before. Because of it the'war vwas too near: one can say it, it' was before the door, and we wait the outbreak-of the war in every moment. You 'can remember that I have already, written that the ■ situation- made in Central Europe by the peac>otreaties shall, bring a war in not fir 'time, because this situation is insupportable. But the. war was eliminated*'because at the end of September Chamberlain, Daladier, Mussolini and Hitler • ";have resolved in Munchen (Munich) that Czechoslovakia must five to Germany its territories inhabited by Germans, about 30,000. square kilometres and i.,500,000 inhabitants. ' Also 'Hungary has received a part of her own territories taken away from her after: the war—we received the greater part of the Hungarian population living in, Czechoslovakia (12,500 square kilometres and 1,100.000 inhabitants). . "You know that after the war Czechoslovakia, took away from Hungary about «3,000 square kilometres and 3,500,000 inhabitants-' The territories not yet returned are, in greater part, of Slovak and Ruthen population, but also many Hungarians live there yet. After the war these peoples wished not to be teated away from Hungary, but, the Czechs have occupied these territories against the will of the population. " "Plebiscite Refused" 'The delivery of these territories inhabited by Germans find Hungarians was fulfilled in October and November, 1938. In November the Czechs have promised autonomy to the Slovaks and the Ruthens (2,000,000 and 500,000 inhabitants), two little peoples Who belonged to Hungary before the war. These two peoples wished a plebiscite on the question, to which country they Wish to belong, but it was not permitted.- As they _j say, this plebiscite Would have decided by a'great majority that these territories will return to Hungary. .., "From November to March the situa- "* tion has developed further. The Czechs have not given the autonomy promised by them to the Slovaks and Ruthens, and the oppression became stronger, especially against the Ruthens, of whom many were forced to fly to' Hungary, and very rriUch villages have begged that 'the < territories inhabited .by Ruthens could return to Hungary .This was the general wish of the Ruthens because nobody' likes:. the .Czechs .(neither the Ruthens nor the Slovaks), and because without Hungary, without the Hungarian agrar products (farm produce) they cannot live. To, fulfil these- wishes, at the middle of Mareh the Hungarian Government ordered the occupation of these territories, and the Hungarian soldiers have occupied in three days, the - whole territory (11,000' square kilometres).full of very great mountains; ,*AJso this quick cupation demonstrates that the Ruthen people' wished to return to Hungary; they have received the Hungarian soldiers everywhere with the- greatest joy and - saluted .them: as liberators- i This occupation is happened with the agreement oi the Polish and Italian Governments* ahd, : I -think, also; the English arid-Frendh 'Governments were contented' with it.: It was' only; a pure accident that also Germany has occupied Bohemia arid Morhvia in the same period J-the occupation of Ruthenia Would -have happened at-all event*. Dangerous <luestlon" "Naturally, Hungary -has received with'the. greatest joy the return of these territories, which, belonged to Hungary since : 1000 years, and .neve; td another State: The Ruthen question hag been for 20years otte of the most dangerous questions of Europe.- > ■■: In 1920 the Ruthen territories were given to Czechoslovakia to be a bridge from Czechoslovakia to Russia. They wished it so. so that Russia could attack Central Europe all in a moment. But between' Czechoslovakia and i Russia is Naturally Hungary, has, never renounced.: its "rights to the territories taken , away. ,-■.. '-. .•'"'. ~'. "In October. 1938. when the terri- * toriesvof Czechoslovakia, inhabited by Germans, were given to Germany, Ger* many became very much stronger than before; Germany has no colonies, and it cannot provide its population with provisions and raw materials, and so it needs territories which are rich in these things. These territories are in South Russia (in the so-called Ukraine) Therefore Germany wished in October. 1938. that a plebiscite be not arranged in Ruthenia, for the Ruthens wished to be returned to Hungary, and Germany wished these territories to remain in the possession of the Czechs, for Ger-many-hoped so to come nearer to Ukrane in the case of Czechoslovakia ceasing to exist. Because of this and other not friendly things, the relations between Hungary and Germany became cold,, and also Poland was against the Germaii intentions, for Poland would have, lost very great territories if Germany would occupy Ukraine. The return; of the Ruthen territories, to Hungary makes difficult the occupation of Ukraine, and therefore also Great Britain and France were contented with |he occupation of Ruthenia by Hungary. >'! ..' , ■ '■ ■ ;.;■'.;- '

" Blindness of Statesmen "

' " You can remember that I wrote you already sometimes, what a folly was the dismemberment of Hungary in 1919 and 1920. The Entente wished to create in Czechoslovakia a very strong base against Germany, and—as we have seen—Czechoslovakia ceased without a shot of a gun. It would have been better to let Hungary alone in 1919, for the Hungarians battled always, since 1000 years, against the Germans, defending their own freedom. It is a great pity that the French and English statesmen in 1919 did not know the story and geography, of Central Europe at all, and especially of Hungary. I have also written you a few times that in Europe shall not be peace till Hungary receives back its old frontiers. A strong Hungary is the most strong pillar, of peace in Europe. Alas, because of the blindness of the statesmen —as also Mr Chamberlain has said a few days ago—this pillar was destroyed in 1919. Germany is now so strong as never before, therefore also we, Hungary, must become stronger , "It cannot be denied that peace is in danger. I think we cannot avoid war; perhaps now, in the spring, perhaps in ohV or two years, but I think it will come. God save bur country, which , wishes to live at peace with all the nations between its old frontiers."