§ 48. Mr. RAFFANasked the Prime Minister whether the Ruthenians formerly under Hungarian rule have expressed a desire for incorporation into Czechoslovakia; if so, by what method; and, if not, whether they will be allowed to choose their allegiance?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe Peace Conference, after prolonged study of the question of the Ruthenians of Hungary, came to the conclusion that this people preferred to be attached to Czechoslovakia rather than to Hungary or Roumania, They have, however, not been incorporated in Czecho-Slovakia, but 2198 formed into a completely autonomous province, the rights of which are protected by a special treaty with the Czecho-Slovak Government. The third part of the question does not therefore arise.
§ 49. Mr. RAFFANasked the Prime Minister whether, in fixing the boundaries of Hungary, the principle of self-determination is to be applied; whether the boundaries proposed will exclude from their own fatherland and place under Roumanian or Czecho-Slovak rule large compact populations of Magyars and other races, including some blocks numbering hundreds of thousands; and whether the wishes of these people will be ascertained by plebiscite or by any other method before such boundaries are finally determined?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWAs regards the first part of the question, the Peace Conference have drawn the boundaries of Hungary as closely in accordance with ethnic principles as was geographically possible. As regards the second part of the question, I would remind the hon. Member that owing to the mixed character of the population in these regions it was inevitable that large Magyar minorities should be as a result brought under Roumanian rule, just as many hundreds of thousands of Czechoslovaks, Roumanians and (Germans have still to be left under Hungarian rule. I cannot regard the proposal of a plebiscite in the third part of the question as practicable, but the Peace Conference have never lost sight of the wishes of the inhabitants.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYWhen will the Treaty be laid before the House for discussion?
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIs it not a fact that the Italian Prime Minister has been urging the Supreme Council to revise this Treaty more in the direction of national integrity?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWAs a matter of fact, the whole subject was very carefully considered.
§ 50. Mr. RAFFANasked the Prime Minister whether Roumania has under taken by treaty to give to Hungarian nationals coming under Roumanian rule the right to opt for any other nationality that may be open to them and that persons 2199 exercising such option shall be entitled to retain their immovable property in Roumanian territory; if he is aware that, in defiance of such treaty, a law has been decreed to expropriate entirely all real estate belonging to foreign subjects and enacting that Hungarian subjects who choose allegiance to any State other than Roumanian are to be treated as foreigners and thus deprived of the protection specifically provided for them in the treaty, and that this is to apply to corporate property held on behalf of co-operative societies, churches, and schools, thus violating the religious liberty promised by the Allies; whether he has protested or will protest against this action; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent the oppression of transferred populations and to guarantee the execution by the Roumanian Government of their treaty obligations?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWYes, Sir; Roumania, Czecho - Slovakia, Yugo - Slavia and Austria, though not yet Hungary, have signed such treaties. With regard to the second part of the question, I am aware that a law has been introduced in Roumania and in Transylvania to expropriate big estates, though I am not in a position to state whether the details of this law are of the character alleged. The third part of the question does, therefore, not arise. With regard to the last part of the question, I may remind the hon. Member that the guarantee of these treaties rests with the League of Nations.
§ Mr. RAFFANWill the right hon. Gentleman make enquiry with regard to the matter?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWYes. The Supreme Council will make sure that the legislation does not infringe the Treaty. So far as I am able to gather information, what happened is that those Governments are going a very long way in the direction of the land policy of the hon. Member.
§ Mr. RAFFANIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that there have been great complaints that religious liberty has been interfered with and is he not aware that those who are keen on the land policy are keen on religious liberty and all other forms of liberty?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThere is nothing about religious liberty in the question.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIs that land policy applied to the Boyars of Roumania as well as to the landlords of Transylvania?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI told the House we have not full information as to what the legislation is but so far as information is available it applies to all estates.