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

Appendix III. Parliamentary debates

967 the management of these forests to regulate properly the flow of waters by means of forestry. We also raised in this connection the problem of fisheries. The suggestions were fully accepted. A commission will be set up, composed not of experts as we desired, but otherwise our request was met in full. I believe these provisions constitute an important improvement over the original draft of the treaty because the conditions thus secured are very important not only for the economic prosperity of peoples living in the Central Danube basin and especially for those living on the Great Plain, but also for Central Europe in general. The agricultural development of the Great Plain is of primary importance for Central Europe. I wish finally to point out that with respect to the last chapter concerning the International Labour Organization, we received a satisfactory explanation to our inquiries as to the extent to which this applies to agricultural workers. We received an entirely satisfactory assurance that the eight hour day does not apply to agricultural workers, which would naturally be impossible. I have in the preceding acquainted the House with the contents of the peace treaty. The treaty is bad, very bad, even in its present form ... Please be assured that I do not see less clearly the wickedness of the treaty on account of the courteous tone with which it was handed to us. Politeness may be pleasant to individuals but nations cannot be satisfied with it. (Approval.) And anyway this politeness is counterbalanced, to a certain extent, by the fact that our treaty is the most severe of all the peace treaties. Permit me now to return from the atmosphere into which the examination of the details of this treaty placed me to the atmosphere at the beginning of my address and in which we observe matters from a more distant, higher point of view — from the perspective of history. Nations are composed not only of the living, but also of those who have died and those who are not yet born. The living derive strength to work for future generations from the deeds of those who have passed away. I believe this is the basic principle which we should not for a moment ignore when we are faced with these questions so gravely affecting our history. I admit and know that the generation of which we are a part is an unlucky generation: just as unlucky as that one which lived to see the Mohács tragedy, just as unlucky as the one from which King Béla IV organized his army. I appreciate that unity, the patriotic feeling which binds together in this world those few who call themselves Magyars — the very fact that we are a small nation is all the more reason