The Eighth Tribe, 1981 (8. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1981-07-01 / 7. szám
1 The Transylvanian World Federation transmitted the following STATEMENT to the COMMITTE ON WAYS AND MEANS of the United States House of Representatives in regard to the renewal of the MOST-FAVORED-NATION Status to the Socialist Republic of Romania. STATEMENT by the United States Chapters of the Transylvanian World Federation and Affiliated Organizations addressed to the COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS United States House of Representatives on the subject if TERMINATING THE MOST - FAVORED - NATION TREATMENT previously granted to the SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF RUMANIA U. S. Branches of the Transylvanian World Federation and Affiliated Organizations, composed of fifty-four independent civic organizations of United States citizens in eighteen states. Offices: Rt. 1, Box 59, Astor, Florida 32002. Tel. 904-759-2255. 1450 Grace Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44107. Tel. 216-226-4089. 3914 Terrace Drive, Annandale, Virginia 22003. Tel. 703-354-7979. April 27, 1981. INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT The duly elected executives of the U.S. Branches of the Transylvanian World Federation and Affiliated Organizations, with the full and undivded support of the entire membership residing in eighteen' states of the United States of America, and composed exclusively of loyal citizens of this great country, respectfully request that the Most-Favored-Nation status previously granted to the government of the Socialist Republic of Rumania be terminated or suspended for the period of one year, during which time the government of the Socialist Republic of Rumania may be requested to furnish reliable proof that the reasons for this action as listed in this document are eliminated, and the grievances, infringements and violations properly rectified through due governmental process. Our request is based on the grounds that the government of the Socialist Republic of Rumania is pursuing an extremely brutal ultra-nationalistic policy while ruling over a multi-national country, and as we shall prove, it violates the rights as well as the very existence of more than one-fifth of its total population by the use of terroristic methods against ethnic minorities intolerable in a civilized world. Furthermore, we shall prove that the government of the Socialist Republic of Rumania is found in flagrant violation of the Peace Treaties, the Helsinki Act, and of its own constitution, and is guilty of cultural genocide, ethnocide, and other acts against humanity. CONDENSED BACKGROUND STUDY TRANSYLVANIA is located in the eastern most part of the Carpathian Basin. A glance at the map will show us that this basin is completely surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains forming a compact geographical and economical unit. This land has been inhabited by Hungarians since 895 A.D. and became over the centuries one of the most successful and long-lasting political and cultural units of Europe. Transylvania played an important cultural as well as political role within' this unit for ten centuries as part of the Hungarian homeland. It was the cradle of Hungarian art and literature. From the sixteenth century on it became the fortress of religious freedom: the first country on earth where man’s right to pursue his own religious belief was declared the law of the land. The Hungarian educational institution? of Transylvania were esteemed all over Europe from the fifteenth century on. A lively exchange of educators and students with Italian, French, Dutch, English and German universities kept the Hungarian cultural life of Transylvania abreast of the world’s great cultural achievements. Rumanian herdsmen began to move fiom the south across the high ridges of the Carpathians into the Hungarian Kingdom during the fourteenth century, seeking new pastures for their sheep herds, From the seventeenth century on' groups of Rumanian refugees fleeing from their own despotic rulers asked permission to cross the border and they were granted asylum. More and more refugees came and settled in different parts of Transylvania. The Hungarian administration built villages for them; churches and schools in' which they could serve God their own way and teach their children in their own tongue. The new immigrants were aided in developing their own culture and as time went on they became prosperous and multiplied in numbers. At the end of World War I, based on the fact that 52% of the population spoke the Rumanian Language, Transylvania was awarded to the neighboring Rumanian Kingdom and the ordeal of the native Hungarian population began. Tom from the THE TRANSYLVANIAN QUARTERLY m
