Hungary and Rumania Excited

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 153, 19 September 1927, Page 12

Hungary and Rumania Excited

TENSION AT GENEVA TRANSYLVANIA LAND LAWS By Cable. — Pi'css Association.—Copyright GENEVA, Saturday. The Council of the League sat all to-day trying to find a solution of the dispute arising from Rumania’s land laws in Transylvania conflicting with the interests of Hungarian propertyowners Finally when tempers were heated the President had to adjourn the meeting to give the protagonists a chance to sleep. The position is awkward, and it is hoped that second thoughts will produce a situation less menacing to the future of the League and to the world’s estimation of the Council as a settler of disputes. There was a striking scene in the Glass Hall, which was crowded all day to witness the duel between Count Apponyi, Hungary, who spoke from one end of the table, a tallupriglit, bearded and grey-headed man of well over 80, and at the other end M. Titulesco, Rumania, clean-shaveu and resembling a modernised Chinaman. Count Apponyi occupied the whole morning in a dignified and restrained presentation of his case. M. Titulesco spoke with clear incisiveness as an experienced lawyer. He said the Hungarian claims amounted to 400,000,000 gold francs, which was beyond Rumania’s means. A DEADLOCK Neither would yield an inch to the other, and there was a deadlock when Sir Austen Chamberlain made an attempt, with partial success, to obtain a unanimous vote on the main principles of his committee’s recommendations, to the effect that the agrarian reforms could be carried out from enemy territory provided the enemy owners were treated exactly as were Rumania’s, with the omission, however, of the specific recommendations to which both parties objected. The Rumanian delegate, M. Titulesco, speaking emphatically and gesticulating violently, said he would accept the proposals if Count Apponyi would. He said the Council must act in order to preserve' peace. His Government could not guarantee peace in Rumania if the agrarian law were undermined. Sir Austen, replying to Count Apponyi. said the League constantly kept in view the respect due to international institutions. The refusal by Puimania rendered a reference to the Hague Court impossible. The whole question turned, he said, on the correct interpretation of the Treaty of Trianon, upon which the committee of eminent jurists who were consulted were unanimous. ALL TO EXPRESS VIEWS M. Boncour supported the report of the committee and finally Sir Austen said the Council agreed with the first part, of the recommendations oi the committee, but disagreed with the sanctions which would be enforceable in the event of the parties refusing to accept the recommendations. He proposed a final appeal to Rumania

and Hungary to agree. Count Apponyi agreed to accept the decision of the Council and to recommend it to his Government. Herr Stresemann (Germany) sup ported Count Apponyi and Sir Austen again advocated the acceptance of the report, and it was then decided that all the members of the Council should express their views. It thus became clear that there was no immediate chance of agreement, and the discussion was adjourned to September 19. Sir Austen has postponed his departure for London till a settlement has been reached.—A. and N.Z.