The Canadian-American Review of Hungarian Studies - Vol. 4 ... - EPA

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The extent of Kirkconnell's success in modifying Canadian attitudesto European immigrant groups cannot be assessed with any degree ofcertainty. But it is true that these minorities received better treatmentduring the Second World War than they did during the First. This wasno doubt partly the result of Kirkconnell's work. His memoirs revealthat during the war many "Anglo-Canadians" favored theclosing downof the entire ethnic press. 48 That this did not happen was probably theresult of Kirkconnell's emphatic statements, made especially at theoutset of the war, that all European immigrant groups were loyal toCanada. Rather than branding Germans, Italians and Hungarians"enemy aliens", and restricting their freedoms, the Canadian governmentestablished the Committee on Co-operation in Canadian Citizenship.The Committee, working under the jurisdiction of the Departmentof War Services, aimed at fostering good relations with all Europeanimmigrant ethnic groups. Though not an "insider" in Canadian decision-makingduring the war, Kirkconnell probably exerted considerableinfluence with policy-makers in Ottawa. That senior officials respectedhis views is indicated by the fact that he was consulted in the planning ofwhat later became the Citizenship Branch of the Department of theSecretary of State. In fact, when the bureau was established, he wasoffered its directorship. It is characteristic of Kirkconnell's love for theunhindered exchange of views that he declined the honour. As anacademic he would retain greater freedom to speak out on nationalissues. 49After the war, Ottawa's more enlightened attitudes toward ethnicgroups gained expression in the policy adopted regarding the readyadmission of central and eastern European immigrants. Indeed, duringthe late 1940's and the early I950's thousands of so-called DisplacedPersons came to Canada to escape war-torn Europe's harsh conditions.Many of these were Hungarians. Their arrival greatly augmented thenumerical strength of Canada's Magyar community. The fact thatmany of the newcomers were educated professionals helped to enhancethe standard of the cultural life of Hungarian clubs and associationsthroughout Canada. It is not surprising that the 1950's saw the genesisof what will probably be remembered as the Golden Age of theCanadian-Magyar ethnic group: the post-1956 decades.By this time Kirkconnell had retired from active public life. Troubledby advanced age, poor health, and deteriorating eyesight, he no longerhad the strength to participate in public controversies. Despite thesehandicaps, however, he continued his verse translations and scholarlywriting, and to assist his Magyar friends in every way possible. Indica-
tive of his helpful attitude and unwaveringfaith in Canada's Hungarian-Canadian community was his response to the planned launching of anEnglish-language journal dealing with Hungary and Hungarians on ascholarly level: the Canadian-American Review of Hungarian Studies.Whereas many Hungarian academics refrained from associating themselveswith a venture the success of which could not be guaranteed inadvance, Professor Kirkconnell shelved every doubt and much moreurgent projects, and promptly produced an article for the Review. Ayear later, when asked to become the journal's honorary editor, heconsented without hesitation or delay.The achievements of many men are not appreciated during theirlifetime. To some extent, this is true of Professor Kirkconnell's work.True, he has been showered with honours and distinctions; but most ofthese expressions of thanks and appreciation were extended in recognitionof his literary and scholarly activities. But the significance ofKirkconnell's work exceeds the realm of literature and poetry. This isespecially true as far as Hungarian-Canadians are concerned. He hasserved us not only as the translator of the Magyar nation's soul to theEnglish-speaking world; he has been one of the most dedicated andmost effective benefactors of the Hungarian-Canadian community aswell.NOTESProfessor Bennett Kovrig has commented on the first draft of this essay; ProfessorThomas Spira has meticulously edited the final draft; Drs. F. G. Harcsar, JosephKohari and Messrs. Maxim Tabori, Bela Bachkai Peyerle and Istvan Willerdinghave provided encouragement. To each of them I wish to express my thanks andappreciation.1. Quoted by R. C. Brown and R. Cook, Canada 1896-1921: A Nation Transformed(Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1974), p. 28.2. Quoted ibid., p. 74.3. H. B. Neatby, The Politics of Chaos, Canada in the Thirties (Toronto: Macmillan,1972), p. 28.4. Ibid., p. 31.5. Under the heading "Hungarian" the 1911 census included not only all formerresidents of the multinational Kingdom of Hungary, but Lithuanians andMoravians as well.6. Ibid., 1 June 1937. On learning of its mistake, the company apologized andlifted its restrictions.7. For a general work on the subject of prejudices in Canada see David R. Hughesand Evelyn Kallen, The Anatomy of Racism: Canadian Dimensions (Montreal:Harvest House, 1974).
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Page 9 and 10: the best possible settlers who woul
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Page 18 and 19: from the "Canadian poetry" of Icela
Page 20 and 21: garian community of Western Canada,
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Page 24 and 25: which took place in the pages of th
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Page 44 and 45: NOTES1. The only full-length study
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Page 50 and 51: Jones' Five Hungarian WritersJ 4 Su
Page 53 and 54: REVIEW ARTICLEHungarian Poetry in E
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Page 59 and 60: REVIEW ARTICLEHungarian Religious P
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Page 63 and 64: SPECIAL SECTIONToldiAn Epic Poem (1
Page 65 and 66: CANTO ONE"He lifted, with one hand,
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Page 79 and 80: CANTO FIVENicholas went wandering a
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Her tongue was like a coulter in th
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Rosemary pots mourned on its window
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Such were her words. No more would
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As if a nest of hornets rose to sti
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Upon an isle, by a Czech's hand the
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REVIEW ARTICLEQuo Vadis Transylvani
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Hungarians in Rumania in terms of t
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down by serious shortcomings in bot
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alanced presentation of the Vienna
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talent enables Wass to depict the s
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Carpathian Federation, and printed
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Now and then, however, this rule de
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temper such an indictment by recogn
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OUR CONTRIBUTORS (continued from pa
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TO THOSE WISHING TO SUBMIT MANUSCRI
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