UNHAPPY DISPUTE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 24 November 1927, Page 5

UNHAPPY DISPUTE

RUMANIA AND HUNGARY EFFORTS FOR FRIENDLY „ , SETTLEMENT. FOREIGN SECRETARY’S DUTY. [British Official WireleraJ (Received 24, 12.30 p.m.) , Rugby, Nov. 28. Sir Austen Chamberlain was asked in the House of Commons whether he would use his good offices with the Rumanian Government in its dispute with Hungary, Sir Austen Chamberlain replied t “The League Council did me the honour—the very arduous and invidious honour, if I may say so of naming me rapporteur, and associated with me to assist me in my action two other members of the Council. That committee of three have used their utmost endeavours with both parties to bring them to a friendly settlement of this unhappy dispute.” The Foreign Secretary added that his duty as representative of this country on the Council of the League, when entrusted by that Council with the task of rapporteur on such a question, was to preserve iipparuality and to do his best to reconcile the contending parties.

The dispute arose out of Rumania’s refusal to permit a mixed Hangar* lan-Rumanian Arbitration Tribunal to decide appeals by Hungarians in Rumania against the expropriation of their property under the Ruman* tan Agrarian Reform Law. Th» proposed' solution requested Huy mania, who has withdrawn her Judge from the tribunal, thereby rendering *t i®P oss ’ble to act. to reinstate her Judge. It was also recommended that both parties should accept the principle that there should be no in# equality in the application of the Rumanian Agrarian Law as between Hungarian and Rumanian nationals. The question had been referred to ai committee of three, over which Sir Austen Chamberlain presided. In reporting that agreement could not be arrived at. Sir Austen Chamberlain pointed out that Hungary had not made a single concession from first to last. After the postponement of the discussion. Sir Austen Chamberlain asked to be relieved of his work as rapporteur of the committee. and requested the Council to elect a substitute for the Decembe; meeting At the request of every member of the Council however Sir Austen Chamberlain agreed to withdraw his resiggnation.