Amerikai Magyar Értesítő, 1990 (26. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1990-09-01 / 9. szám
10.oldal FRANCIS FAZAKAS: TRIANON: 1920-1990 Seventy years ago» on June 4th, 19H0» the Treaty of “Trianon" — which ended World War I between the Triple Entente and Hungary — was signed in Paris. Since that day, the name of "Trianon" — a baroque lust-palace — signifies to every Hungarian the dismemberment of their millenary kingdom, which resulted in the Central and East European chaos of today, afflicting unspeakable sufferings and attempted genocide upon the whole Hungarian people. First we have to discuss this treaty in the light of international law. In article 161 of the Treaty of Trianon we find the following indictment: "The Allied and Associated Government affirm, and Hungary accepts, the responsibility of Hungary and her allies for causing the loss and damage to which the Allied and Associated Governments and their nationals have been subjected as a consequence of the war imposed upon them by the aggression of Austria- Hungary and her allies*. In order to sustain the validity of the Treaty of Trianon, it must be proved beyond the shadow of any doubt tha.t Hungary was a real aggressor at the outbreak of World War I. There is no international law which permits the punishment of an innocent nation. International law defines the real aggressor as follows: "The real aggressor is not he who first employs force, but he who renders the employment of force necessary". The Franco-Russian military allience of 1893 specified: "The aggressor is one who mobilizes first". To understand the outbreak of World War I, we have to know the following: The territory of pre-1920 Hungary was settled by the Hungarians in the year 889 A. B. At that time, it was desolate land with scattered population, mostly kinsmen to the Magyars, the remnants of the Huns and Avars. The Hungarians have held title to their territory by continuous occupation during the one thousand years. Thus confirming to international law, the Hungarians had triple title to their land: 1. Occupation, as by occupying uninhabited land, or land inhabited by uncivilized people. 2. Conquest by arms. 3. Long use and occupation. Geographically, Hungary is the gateway between East and West in Europe. All invaders -- the Tartars of Genghis Khan in 1990.szeptember 1241, later the Turks for 150 years — tried to pass first through Hungary. Hungary, "the Bastion of Europe" resisted, usually alone, but these bloody centuries caused a great loss of Hungarians "the defenders of Western civilization and saviours of Christianity*. After their wars defending Europe, in the devastated boundaries of their own country, the Hungarians settled less fortunate people of the Balkans who were fleeing Turkish despotism and no longer had homes. Hungary lost its medieval great power status in 1526 when Hungary stood alone against the might of the entire Ottoman (Turkish) empire and was defeated. More than 20»000 of 25»000 Magyars perished against an army of nearly 120>000 on the plain of Mohács. The lands that were not taken by the Turks fell into the control of the Hapsburgs, who were conspicuously absent at Mohács. Until 1849 the Hungarians fought 9 times for their freedom, about once each generation. The last time was in 1848-49 under Kossuth, but the Austrians, joined by a Russian army of 200,000 men forced the Hungarians back into the Hapsburg yoke. At the beginning of the 20th century, Central Europe was overpopulated, without enough food and raw materials. The Russians needed a year-round open seaport and the Germans wanted a traffic road to the Near East to bring in raw materials. In 1910» the Czar of Russia and the Emperor of Germany agreed at Potsdam that Germany could build the Eerlin-Baghdad railroad, and Russia, a railroad through Persia (Iran) to the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea, thus solving their problems without bloodshed. But England, France and some high Russian dignitaries and diplomats savagely opposed this plan which would have caused an economic and commercial boom in East Europe and Russia. A very different plan was set up by Poincaré (1913-20 president of France), Clemenceau (1906-9 and 1917-20 French premier), Klotz (French finance minister), Iz- volski (Russian ambassador to France), and many others to direct a campaign of terror against Austria-Hungary, perceived as Germany's weaker partner. Serbia, the small Balkan state was chosen as the stage because the Berlin-Baghdad railroad traversed Serbia and its safe and successful operation could most easily be wrecked there. The government of Serbia had questionable legiÜímacy, and was sometimes described as "gangster caliber". The well known historian of the time, professor Barnes wrote: "The Amerikai Magyar Értesítő
