Krónika, 1946 (3. évfolyam, 2-10. szám)
1946-08-15 / 8. szám
‘KRÓNIKA 1946 augusztus 15. 8-IK OLDAL by high mountain ranges belonging to the system of the Carpathians. The whole of her interior is a country of low hills. The mountain range forming the Eastern frontier of Transylvania runs from the Alps of Maramaros to the block mountains named Csilyanos of the Southeastern angle of Transylvania. Here it turns at right angles and continues in a westward line as far as the Iron Gate of the Lower Danube. The mountains bordering the basin on the West, towards the Nagy- Alfold (the Great Plains) do not form such a decided barrier as the mountain ranges on the Eastern and Southern border, surrounding the basin-like veritable ramparts. The line of mountains is lower here, more broken, and affords more facilities for crossing by the valleys of the numerous streams belonging to the river system of the Danube. The center of the geographical unity formed by the mountain system of the Carpathians and the river system of the middle Danube is the Magyar Alföld, the basin of Transylvania being joined to it in strict union by its own mountain and river system. Through all the centuries of the known history of Transylvania this geographic position has determined her fate. The first real state within the semi-circle of the Carpathian Mountains was founded in the 10th Century by the Magyars, who took up their positions in the Dunantul(Trans-Danubia)and the Nagy Alföld (the Great Plains). They could not, however, consider this position assured till their domination extended over Transylvania also,, and the ancestral Magyar tribes took occupancy of the more approachable parts as early as the time of the Conquest. It was the constitutional organization, together with the political talent and the great qualities of some of her truly eminent leaders, such as Stephen Báthory, Stephen Bocskay, Gabriel Bethlen, George Rákóczi I. and Francis Rákóczi II., that rendered Transylvania capable of worthily representing Hungarian policy and Hungarian State- Forming power in the concert of European states. It was through these Magyar leaders that Transylvania gained pre-eminence among the European nations and thus she was invited to assist the Western powers in the 30-year religious struggle. Transylvania had been known as the champion of liberty of conscience and tolerance since the 16th Century. •» Even though Hungary has been torn apart by the treaty of Trianon, her spirit is undaunted. Hungary lives! She can never forget that millions of her sons are suffering under foreign domination. Nor will Hungary cease to assert that her present frontiers are unjust or to demand that the treaties concerning the protection of the Hungarian minorities should be respected. President Woodrow Wilson, on February 11, 1917, sent the following message to the peoples of Europe involved in the war: “Peoples and territories cannot be arbitrarily transferred from one state to another, like pawns on a chess board." In view of this statement, it is believed that all Hungarians now under foreign domination should have been rightfully returned to their mother country. The Problem of Hungary and the Problem of Transylvania are very delicate. In the light of the Atlantic Charter we ask that all Hungarian-populated territories in Transylvania be returned to Hungary. If this cannot be accomplished then a full INDEPENDENCE be considered for Transylvania. Also, moreover, under the Atlantic Charter, we ask the return of * all Hungarian populated territories to Hungary that are now under foreign domination. • It is our utmost desire to have JUSTICE given to these Hungarians. They, too, have the right to enjoy a constitution similar to the one we are enjoying in these United States. These people should also know what great joy freedom and the pursuit of happiness can afford. American Hungarian Transylvanian Federation Dr. Stephanie DeLosonczy, executive secretary 209 — 12 Ave., Sea Cliff, L. I. II. Submitted to the Twenty-One Nation’s Peace Conference in Paris, France, July 29, 1946 IN BEHALF OF TRANSYLVANIA The Independent Transylvania Committee, respectfully and with confidence appeal to the members of the Paris Peace Conference in the interest of the much suffering people of Transylvania. Having read the most shocking news about the recent meeting in Paris of the Foreign Ministers, Representatives of the four great powers, their decision in handing over Transylvania to Roumania without the people's consent, we cannot believe that the Representatives of the Twenty-One Nations Peace Conference will approve this unjust decision. In 1918 President Woodrow Wilson in his 14 points assured the small Nations to the right of their self-determination, which at Trianon has been brushed aside, and pushed Transylvania libertyloving people into slavery. After the first world war, while under Roumanian rule, Székelys, Hungarians and Roumanians, in Transylvania, have never ceased to claim political autonomy for Transylvania. The people of Transylvania were successful in maintaining national liberty, political autonomy and equality of rights within Transylvania unity. This liberal system brought about Transylvanian solidarity, which enabled indepedent Transylvania to resist successfully for three centuries’the constant attacks of two great Powers (Germany and Turkey), aimed at her subjugation. Transylvanian self-defense saved Central Europe from Turkey destruction, but had decimated Székelys and Hungarians within Transylvania. They were replaced by refugees Írom the Balkans, mostly Roumanians, who were granted work and livelihood and were exempted from participation in national defense. They settled down, rapidly increasing in numbers. These prolific new-comers constitute now a slight majority (51%) of the Transylvanian population. This, is the only fact on which the Roumanian claim for the possession of Transylvania is based. The Transylvania native Roumanians themselves desire the Transylvanian independence, about which I became convinced during my personal visit in my native country. They do not dare express their opinion openly or publicly, because they know, that as uprisers they would rightaway be wiped out. It is for this very reason that the people of Transylvania which people were stripped from free will, expect of the American Independent Transylvania Committee to appeal to the Twenty-One Nations Peace Conference for the restoration of Independence for Transylvania. While political expediency and territorial compensation have always been the stock in trade of old world power politics, large masses of public opinion do not consider them trustworthy foundations on which to build a stable peace. * Transylvania peace-loving, hardworking, hospitable people, which people more than a millenium, not only was able to defend her independence, but with her democratic idea, has shown the way to the liberty-loving people—DESERVE—that her unlawfully taken independence should be restored in behalf of world peace, humanity and justice. The character of Transylvania is determined by the outstanding fact that she is inhabited by an ethnically “mixed-population." Geographically Transylvania is a perfect and almost closed unit, surrounded by high, densely forested mountains. The only satisfactory and equitable solution of the Transylvania problem is: the reconstitution of Transylvania as an independent state. All the races, living in Transylvania, would gladly accept this solution. At the same time, within Transylvanian unity, the traditional autonomy of the four Transylvanian nations: Székelys, Roumanians, Hungarians and <fci.\ons should also be secured by international obligations and guarantees. Transylvania then should bécome an independent member of a reorganized Danubian Federation, large enough to assure a livelihood, progress and security to all concerned. There is no other constructive or unbiased solution for this most intricate Central- European problem. The self determination of the peoples of Transylvania should be the guide in the re-establishment of the Independence of this province under the supervision of the four great powers. Respectfully yours, REV. ALOIS ALEXANDER KRISIK Independent Transylvania Committee 2323 Genevieve Street * — San Bernardina, California.
