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

Appendix III. Parliamentary debates

98

4 fulfill these obligations. The Hungarian Government has knowledge of a great many more incidents than those enumerated by the Hon. Member. Mr. Karafiáth : I could myself report a great many more ! Count Csáky : These constitute a small fraction of incidents occurring daily which must disgust not merely us Hungarians but every person believing in and seeking justice. In our present situation, the only means at our disposal is to complain to the forum which is entrusted with the execution of the peace treaties : the Conference of Ambassadors in Paris. The Hungarian Government has not failed, repeatedly and with the greatest emphasis, to call such incidents to the attention of the Conference of Ambassadors. I may say that hardly a week passes without a request and a demand on our part to have such cases investigated and their repetition prevented. I regret to say that we have not accomplished much heretofore, except that a few days ago we received a reply (I may remark not from the Conference of Ambassadors but from the French Government which we also addressed in this matter), asking us to submit concrete instances with specific evidence so that they could not be simply denied.

1 I hope that the submission of concrete complaints will bring some results. I beg the members of the House to bring to the knowledge of the Government every instance supported by incontrovertible proofs. I have reason to believe that a certain pressure is already being exerted on the Governments of the neighbouring States. It is remarkable that recently complaints have begun to appear on the part of the Czechs concerning the allegedly unsatisfactory treatment of Slovak minorities in Hungary

... This seems to be an evidence of bad conscience : they seek to escape responsibility by accusing us. The Hon. Member can rest assured that the Government will, as heretofore, regard it as his first duty to bring such incidents without delay to the knowledge of the competent forum. This is the only thing we can do at present

... We will never fail to defend to the best of our ability and as effectively as possible the interests of our fellow Hungarians separated from us ... [The House resolved to accept the Minister's reply.] 1 Cf. Doc. No. 738.