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

Documents

204 1920 No. 188. 5422/11. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Simonyi-Semadam, to the Secretary General of the Hungarian Peace Delegation, Mr. Praznovszky. [TRANSLATION] Code telegram No. 190. BUDAPEST, March 16, 1920. The Minister of Finance

1 called my attention to the following: The Yugoslav Government recently ordered the restamping of the banknotes of the Austro-Hungarian Bank which were stamped by Yugoslav authorities at the beginning of 1919. Only banknotes held by residents in Yugoslavia and in territories now occupied by Yugoslav authorities are restamped; the Yugoslavs refuse to restamp banknotes bearing the fir^t Yugoslav stamp which are in the possession of persons residing in territories since evacuated by Yugoslav or French troops. The demarcation line having changed repeatedly during the last year, people resident in these evacuated territories, forced a year ago to submit to the Yugoslav nostrification of their banknotes, are now exposed to great financial losses. Banknotes which bear the first Yugoslav stamping only, are not accepted in Yugoslavia and their circulation in Yugoslav territory is prohibited. On the other hand, banknotes, once stamped by Yugoslavia, cannot be honoured by Hungary since that, by virtue of the relevant provisions of the peace conditions, would result in increasing Hungary's liability for the contingent of Austro-Hungarian banknotes in circulation. It is to be feared that a similar situation will arise for the population resident in territories occupied by Rumania who will be left with Austro-Hungarian banknotes stamped by the Rumanians which the Rumanians will doubtless refuse to honour after evacuation. You are requested immediately to ask the urgent intervention of the Principal Allied Powers that both Rumania and Yugoslavia should unconditionally and without limitation recognize and honour the validity of their respective nostrification of AustroHungarian banknotes. 1 Baron Korányi.