Hungarian Heritage Review, 1985 (14. évfolyam, 12. szám)
1985-12-01 / 12. szám
14 HUNGARIAN HERITAGE REVIEW DECEMBER 1985 IBook ^Roütoío of tbc 3®fotttlj- by-HARRY G. LADANYE FROM TRIANON TO THE FIRST VIENNA ARBITRAL AWARD: The Hungarian Minority in the First Czechoslovak Republic-by-Dr. Charles Wojatsek Because the attention of most Hungarians is focused in on Rumania's brutal treatment of the Hungarian minority in Transylvania, the sad fate of the Hungarian minority in Czechoslovakia is being overlooked to a great extent. This book, however, zeroes in on that neglected subject and, in the process, reveals the true story behind how TWO Czechoslovakias, callously sliced out of the old dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary, were fabricated into existence by the dictates of the victorious Allies “of a non-existing state” after two world wars: the first in 1918 and the second in 1945. Behind this incredible steal of real estate and the landnapping of people, was political chicanery of the worst sort. Political intrigue which resulted in the giveaway of Ruthenia to Stalin and his wily Real Estate Brokers in the Kremlin, a gift that made it possible for the Soviets to extend the borders of their empire across the Carpathians into the Danubian Basin. How this landgrab was achieved, the author points out, was that several Czechs living in luxurious exile organized “National Councils" and these were peddled as “Governments in Exile” to the Allies who recognized them as “allied belligerent governments". The architects were Thomas G. Masaryk and Edward Benes. Czecho-Slovakia was born in 1918, the brainchild of Thomas G. Masaryk and Edward Benes whose front was the Czechoslovak National Committee. Twenty years later, this so-called “Republic” collapsed. Then, after World War II and after Benes had enjoyed a profitable visit to Moscow and had returned to Prague, Czechoslovakia came into existence again as a satellite state of the Soviet Union. This is a classic example of how ruthless politicians, remaining out of harm’s way during two world wars, created a new country of their own with the collaboration of the “Allies", but without the consent of the population of the territory involved. Among them, of course, its Hungarian minority! In his book, Dr. Wojatsek also examines the fate of the Hungarian population in the FIRST Czechoslovakia where they were condemned to exist as inferiors and in a state of brutal persecution and oppression. For this reason, among others, this book is a welcome addition to the growing number of books being written and published in English that, someday in the future, may be used as reference sources for worldwide condemnation of and as the basis for meaningful sanctions against violators of the human rights of Hungarian minorities forced to live under barbaric conditions in areas deliberately carved out of Hungary in order to create “artificial mosaic states”. From TRIANON TO THE FIRST VIENNA ARBITRAL AWARD THE HUNGARIAN MINORITY IN THE FIRST CZECHOSLOVAK REPUBLIC - 1918-1938 ■ INSTITUT DES CIVILISATIONS COMPAREES INSTITUTE OF COMPARATIVE CIVILIZATIONS. MONTREAL TO ORDER THIS BOOK, please make out your check or money order in the amount of $16.50 (includes postage and handling) made payable to the Rákóczi- Press International and mail to: RÁKÓCZI PRESS-INTERNATIONAL, INC. P.O. Box 2203 Union, New Jersey 07083
