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Hokitika Guardian, 28 September 1927, Page 2

Till’. Assembly of the League of Nations is still discussing the dispute between Hungary and Roumania over the breaking-up of big estates in Transylvania. The complicated details of the story were fully set forth in the cable columns. Count Apponvi, who created something of a sensation by bis dramatic stand against Rumania, Sir Austen Chamberlain, and the I/caguc, says an exchange, is a typical representative of the Magyar feudal aristocracy, and he is naturally determined that this “breaking-up of big estates” in country that was lately Hungarian shall not go on if "Tie can prevent it. But Apponyi’s resistance to the will of the League may he of some service if it helps to remind the League and the world in general how very autocratic and arbitrary) the Hungarians still are in their political views. From the days of Kossuth and Gladstone sympathy for the Hungarians has been one of the watchwords of British Liberalism. But it is well to remember that the Magyar social and political ideals are just a.s despotic and medieval as Prussian ism, and that it was no casual accident tluif ranged them on the Kaiser’s side in Hie Great War. But there is more in this squabb'c about the Transylvanian rural lands than at first sight meets the eye. It is evident from Count Anponyi’s altitude towards the Assembly and bis refusal la accept the rulings of the Council of the League or its special com•yiillo-' that Hungary has not joined th? League for the purpose of promoting harmony and (onconl among the Powers. On the contrary, the Hungarians have declared their intention of tearing up the Trianon Treaty at the first, convenient opportunity, and thehave entered the League chiefly for the purpose of finding ways and means of redressing their grievances against Rumanians or Slavs or Poles or any other nation that profited by the Peace of Versailles, and the dismemberment of the Hapsburg Empire. This, xf course, means the possibility that tbe settlement of 1919 in Central Europe may yet he overturned; and. unfortunately, even in Britain there are influential people who would like to see this brought about. Two or.three weeks ago the Rothorniere Press made one of its periodical onslaughts on “Balknnised Europe,” protesting against the humiliations to which Austria and Hungary have been subjected, and pointing to the injury inflicted on British commerce and industry hv the establishment of so many new tariff harriers to obstruct the free course of European trade. There is in certain quarters a strong feeling against the Little Entente and the new nation States that compose it, and no doubt the Hungarians are exploiting their dispute with Roumania to its utmost capacity with a view t> promoting a reaction inside and outside the League against the Trianon Treaty.