To the Editor of the "Norra-Cumva Dar News"
Sm,—The United Press cable to the effect that Hungary is "clamouring".for the return of purely Hungarian populated territory and is asking for a plebiscite in other parts of the present Czecho-Slovak State, which were detached, in 1919 from pre-war Hungary, is not news. It is only a statement of a fact which has existed for the past 20 years but, perhaps, it gains special significance in present circumstances.
Like. the Sudeten-Germans, Hungarians, Slovaks and Ruthenians have an equal right to self-determination, a right which has been denied to them by force of arms.
In the case of Hungary, the covering-note, attached to the Treaty of Trianon, promised "rectification" if, Subsequently, it was found that the frontiers drawn were unjust This promise, like all other promises contained in the 14 points of Wilson and the League of Nations Covenant, were broken. The principles of self-determination, protection of small nations. plebiscite ete. were entirely distorted and ápplied in à manner which best suited the political aims, in the main, of France, It is an established fact now, which all can see who want to, that the Allied promises, made with a view to ending war for ever, were never implemented. Alas, Allies, All-lies!
The untenable ditions which the new order of-things in South-Eastern Europe had created, was recognized more than a decade ago by Lord, Rothermere. He predicted, unless the Allies did something quickly to remedy the situation, war. Many prominent British politicians agreed with him and there has been, for some time, a group of MPs in the British Parliament who were pledged to promote the idea of revision and plebiscite to determine doubtful issues.
One can but acclaim the courage and sagacity of Mr. Neville Chamberlain who has made a supreme effort to save a situation which has been developing-for years, without anyone doing anything about" it. Mr. Chamberlain's task is not an easy One, because the Sudeten-Germans and, for that matter, the other nationalities are. basing themselves, in their demands, on the principles which the Allies have, themselves, proclaimed.
If, in the process of adjustment, to ensure peace in Europe, the Czech State must be reduced to its natural national frontiers, that will be, perhaps at first sight, too bad for the Czechs but, in the end, it will be best for everybody. If, on the other hand, the Czechs would rather fight then agree to a decision by plebiscite, that will be too bad and it is sincerely to be hoped that & determination of the issue on such lines will not come to pass, even though the Czechs would then have the novel experience of actually doing some fighting.
Sram, Shanghai, Sept. 16.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.