Papers and Documents relating to the Foreign Relations of Hungary, Volume 1, 1919–1920 (Budapest, 1939)

Appendix III. Parliamentary debates

956 like to refer to what is said about the contacts between different nations by Vidal de Lablanche, a great French geographer whose spiritual influence made itself felt not only in science but in his country's politics as well. I would also like to refer to a statement of Sir Thomas Holdich, a distinguished British citizen and soldier and President of the British Geographical Society. He pointed out that the advance of the Rumanians to the Tisza river after their occupation of Transylvania does not indicate that the new frontiers are any better than the old boundaries. I could recite a whole series of such statements but I wished to mention only a few. Life itself will slowly balance whatever the war mentality created with, let us hope, the least possible convulsion. When I say with the least possible convulsion, it is not meant as an aggressive threat to foreign countries; we desire peace and we need peace in order to regain our strength. (Approval from right.) What I say applies generally to all countries that took part in the war and were affected by its consequences . . . One may choose policies based on principles which are right or wrong. Personally, I find such a choice in itself wrong. But when one has once decided on a policy based on certain principles, let him be faithful to them; in that case he is bound to abide, in making decisions, by those principles. In a word, he must act with scientific criticism and impartiality, for only thus can principles be enforced. (Approval.) These principles should not be permitted to become slogans. This is the fatal defect in the whole basis of the peace treaties which even we cannot fail to criticize since our own treaty is tainted with this fundamental defect. But the fact that this defect is gradually being conceded even abroad and the conviction that justice must ultimately prevail gives us strength for the future: strength to work, strength to suffer and strength to decide with calmness. Specifically, it gives us strength calmly to weigh the present and the tasks confronting us. Now I should like to turn to the details of the peace treaty. With your permission, I take it for granted that the original draft of the treaty handed to us in January is generally known. At that time there was a great deal published about it and anyway it would scarcely be possible to refer to all its details within the limits of an address. (Approval.) We have now received two documents: one is the new revised text of the treaty and the other is the Accompanying Letter, addressed to the President of the Hungarian Peace Dele-