MONARCHLESS MONARCHY

Evening Star, Issue 23372, 15 September 1939, Page 11

MONARCHLESS MONARCHY

FLEETLESS ADMIRAL RULES THE STORY OF HUNGARY Hungary’s first secret ballot in nearly 20 years—resulting in a strong Government majority as well as increased Nazi representation in Parliament —calls attention to a nation which has seen three opposing forms of government in little more than two decades. Revolution immediately after the World War changed Hungary from a monarchy into a republic. This was followed soon after, in 1919, by the establishment of a Soviet State, which gave way, in 1920, before a counterrevolution brought batik the status of monarchy. LOST 13,000,000 PEOPLE. In the absence of a king Hungary since then has been ruled by a regent. An admiral without a fleet, this regent, Nicholas Horthy, runs a country without a seaport and a nation without a king. He also is the head of a nation which is without a large section of its previous territory and population. As a defeated Power, Hungary alter the World War gave up some 90,000 square miles of laud and 13 million people. To the newly-formed State of Czechoslovakia went northern Hungarian areas to make up the provinces of Slovakia and Ruthenia. In the cast and south-east Rumania received a large slice of land, while in the south and south-west Yugoslavia was allotted another generous share. AT HALF-MAST. Rebellious at the terms of peace which, lopping off both mountain borders and fertile plains, cut her to roughly one-third of her former area and population, Hungary has since refused to accept the boundaries as final. Hungarian flags fly at half-mast in mourning for the lost territories; window designs, street car posters, restaurant signs, and children’s games show maps of former Hungary compared with her present reduced state. School exercises keep the question continually before the young. There have even been stamps, postcards, and buttons issued with the- Hungarian national slogan, “ Will we remain as \\e are?” answered by the words, “ No, no, never!” On i the other hand, although more than 3,000,000 Hungarians were shifted under other flags, within Hungary’s own borders was left an almost solid national group of Magyars. With a population estimated to be 90 per cent. Hungarian, this country had thus few minorities such as offer problems in most Central European States. Furthermore, Hungary has recently reclaimed a large section of her former nationals and- territory, following the dismemberment of Czecho-Slovakia (to use the later hyphenated spelling). Occupation of Ruthenia (or CarpathoUkraine), pins cession of land by Slovakia after reported struggles in the southern and eastern regions of that former Czecho-Slovakian province, has increased Hungary’s area in 1939 to more than 45,000 square miles and her population to over 10£ millions. The gains amounted to some 10.000 square miles and a million and a-half people. FARMING CHIEF OCCUPATION. The return of what was formerly a part of her territory has added to Hungary her former mountain areas which were pared away by post-war treaty. But on the whole the country is still largely made up of low, rolling plains, suitable only for fanning, and grazing. With an economy balanced before the World War between timber, minerals, stock and farm production, Hungary after her reduction became almost entirely agricultural. Farming is the chief pursuit of the people and the activity on which most industry is based, although there is some coal, iron, and bauxite mining, and Ashing preserves are valuable in certain rivers and lakes. Wheat, corn, rye, oats, sugar beets, and tobacco are some of the most important crops. For these supplies Germany (whose “ axis ” partnership is firmly adhered to by Hungary) is by far the lattercountry’s best customer. A very considerable trade with Austria—with whom Hungary was linked from 1867 to 1918 in a dual monarchy—has also been taken over by Germany with the absorption of the smaller nation. An odd characteristic of farming in Hungary is the concentration of many cultivated areas close to or surrounding the villages and settlements. This is explained as a survival of tho days when men lived closo together rather than in isolated farmsteads as protection against frequent invasion from the Turks and others. Hungary is still a land of villages. Tho only city of any size is the capital, Budapest, with over a million inhabitants. The next ranking town has Jess than 150,000 population.