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

Appendix III. Parliamentary debates

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986 In view of the preceding, I should like to address the following interpellation to the Royal Hungarian Government : „Does the Government know that the Czech Government in Prague is engaged in the brutal expulsion of the Slovak, Magyar, Ruthenian and German intelligentsia from Northern Hungary, in utter disregard of the relevant provisions of the peace treaty and with a view to acquiring their properties ? What steps is the Government prepared to take in this matter ?" (General approval and applause.) The Speaker : The Minister for Foreign Affairs wishes to address the House. Count Emeric Csáky, Minister for Foreign Affairs : I should like to remind the House of the reply I made at the last meeting to a similar interpellation. I explained then that the Government is fully acquainted with what is happening in Northern Hungary ; that it knows all the sufferings to which our conationals there living are subjected ; and that it never has in the past, never will in the future, miss any opportunity to utilize all the means at its disposal to change these conditions. I also pointed out that the only device at present available is appeal to the forum which is competent to intervene and administer justice ... As I told you, we found good will and inclination at this forum to remedy the conditions and the Government has been requested to submit concrete cases ... I should like, however, to issue a warning. The Hon. Member suggested that resort to reprisals is the only appropriate procedure. In principle, I share this view. But as matters stand, I believe that resort to this procedure would be dangerous. I beg you to remember that while millions of Hungarians are living today under foreign domination, the number of people in Hungary against whom these reprisals could be applied is very small. There is one fact which I wish to report and which may give a limited amount of satisfaction to the House. (Hear ! Hear !) The Hon. Member referred particularly to the fact that thousands of our co-nationals domiciled in Northern Hungary are being expelled and that they are forced to live in the greatest misery, in railroad carriages and emergency shelters. I am happy to say that we have succeeded in including this subject in the agenda of direct negotiations initiated between the Hungarian and Czech Governments. These negotiations have progressed so far that the Government of Prague has agreed