§ 49. Lord ROBERT CECILasked the Prime Minister whether the Boundary Commission now considering the frontier 397 between Rumania and Hungary have received recently any fresh instructions from the Allied Governments; whether the conditions laid down in the letter of M. Millerand to the Hungarian Government in the early part of 1920 still holds; and whether the Boundary Commission are precluded from, or have decided against, considering the retrocession of any of the three towns of Arad, Nagyvarad, and Szatmarnementi to Hungary, of which the populations are said to be overwhelmingly Hungarian?
Mr. HARMSWORTHThe latest general instructions to the Hungarian Boundary Commissioners were issued in August, last. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the last part, the retrocession to Hungary of the three towns named would be quite inconsistent with the Treaty of Peace, and cannot therefore be entertained.
§ Lord R. CECILAre the Boundary Commissioners unable to consider a modification of the boundary which would involve that change by reason of specific instructions being given to them; and, if so, will those instructions be presented to the House, so that the House may have an opportunity of considering them?
Mr. HARMSWORTHI will inquire into the latter point. My recollection is that in M. Millerand's letter it was not contemplated that so large a rectification would take place as that mentioned by my Noble Friend.
§ Lord R. CECILIs not that a matter for the Boundary Commissioners themselves to consider whether it comes in the terms of M. Millerand's letter, and not that fresh instructions should be given by the Allies in regard to this matter?