Paris Peace Conf. 184.01102/20
Professor A. C. Coolidge to the Commission to Negotiate Peace
[Received January 28.]
Sirs: I have the honor to report that most Hungarians recognize that the treatment of the non-Magyar nationalities in the last half century has not been satisfactory or creditable. Although this is denied by some conservatives and many others who are ignorant about such questions, the better informed say that the law of nationalities, passed in 1868, was a good and fair one in itself, but admit that it has not been properly observed. Some people declare that this was not owing to any intention of ill treating the nationalities as such, but because the administration was generally bad and oppressive, and they say that the Magyar peasants suffered from this as much as the others, as is shown by the fact that it was from the Magyar regions of the country that the deputies of the opposition were generally elected, while those of the majority were more apt to come from the Slovak and Rumanian regions. This explanation is not convincing. The Liberals who are now in control express themselves as being entirely ready to grant very full autonomy to all the nationalities in Hungary, rearranging the country in administrative divisions in a way that would make this most feasible and giving every guaranty to minorities. They admit that the task is difficult but they say it can be done and some sort of a Hungarian Switzerland be created. As a beginning, a law has just been promulgated for the benefit of the Ruthenians of Northern Hungary. I have seen some of the chief Ruthenian officials, who declare themselves perfectly satisfied. Other laws of the same sort are in preparation. The Hungarians are convinced that if arrangements of this sort can be made, the great majority of the non-Magyar peoples who have until now [Page 378] been in the Hungarian state will prefer to remain in it rather than be absorbed by their neighbors; and they claim in the name of justice and particularly in the name of the 14 points and the principles enunciated by President Wilson that these peoples should be given a fair chance to express their wishes. Such a fair chance cannot be given as long as the territories where the food is to be taken are in the hands of Czech, Rumanian and Serb soldiers.
I have [etc.]