The Fate of Western Hungary 1918-1921 - Corvinus Library ...

agenda.”
Lansing: “Perhaps it would be best to assign this for a sub-committee to
study, which would later report to the conference if there is a need or not for
any alteration of the present border between these two countries? This
committee could evaluate all suggestions that would be put forward by
either Austria or Hungary.”
Sonnino: “I see no need to send out a special group, since neither side raised
the problem of a new border settlement. If they raise it, we can discuss it.
Italy, for its part, completely agrees with the current border and we have no
reason to alter it.”
Lansing: “I only wish to prepare the problem, in case the border question
should arise and the council should not be unprepared for the problem.”
Sonnino: “I see no reason to forcibly raise the question. The Hungarians,
although they were not present at the drawing of the Romanian border, still
presented sharp objections. This matter would only create needless chaos. In
any case, the two countries have never disagreed for fifty years over their
mutual border. Their current governments are very uncertain and the time is
not right to give rise to opposition over it between the two countries.”
Lansing: “It is also my opinion that any work be undertaken by a committee
if the matter does not create special problems.”
Sonnino: “If it would be possible to do this, without the affected parties
knowing of the preparations in the matter, then I have no opinion against the
special committee.” 182
The peace arbitrators – after the French Foreign Minister’s comment –
finally agreed that the question of the Hungarian-Austrian question will be
‘objectively’ prepared for the time if this topic should ever arise in the future
between Austria and Hungary. They also decided that, with regard to a potential
border adjustment, fact finding was to begin as soon as possible and without
attracting attention. However, until the two countries raised the issue, all future
decisions were to be suspended. In spite of the decision of the committee, at
one of the next meetings of the Supreme Council, Woodrow Wilson again
brought up the question of altering the border between Austria and Hungary. It
can be justifiably supposed that the Austrians and the Czechs (especially Beneš
and Masaryk, related to the US president by marriage, through his wife) pushed
to realize their dream of the Slav corridor. Having won the confidence and
support of Balfour and Lansing, they must also have reached Wilson, too – and
with momentous result. Miller recorded the following about the unexpected
comment of the American president, which caught the Italian Sonnino
completely by surprise:
Wilson: “I have received some information that the ‘Austrian side’ raised the
problem of border adjustment between Austria and Hungary and so a
decision should be made in this question.”
Sonnino: “I cannot understand why it would not be sufficient if Hungary
182 Czakó, 1933, op. cit., pp. 32–34.
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