In 1920, on June 4, the Treaty of Trianon was signed between Hungary and the states that won the First World War. The agreement came into effect on July 26, 1921. Let's take a closer look at the terms of the Trianon Treaty with Hungary.
General information
Among the main allied powers were:
- USA.
- Britain.
- Italy.
- France.
- Japan.
They were joined at the signing of the Trianon Peace Treaty in 1920:
- Kingdom of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs.
- Nicaragua.
- Cuba.
- Poland.
- Panama.
- Siam.
- Romania.
- Portugal.
- Czechoslovakia.
This agreement was part of the Versailles-Washington system for settling the geopolitical situation after the First World War. In addition to him, the Neuilly, Saint-Germain treaties and the Sevres agreement with Turkey were signed.
Backstory
The conclusion of the Treaty of Trianon with Hungary happened later than with Austria and Germany. It wasdue to the difficult internal and external political situation. The events taking place in Hungary at that time provoked a deepening of the revolutionary movement and foreign intervention.
In 1918, Austria-Hungary collapsed, Hungary was proclaimed a republic. In November, an agreement was signed on a truce and the surrender of the empire. However, by that time, Hungary announced its withdrawal from Austria-Hungary.
Given the current situation, the representatives of the Entente considered it expedient to conclude a new treaty. In mid-November 1918, the democratic government of the Hungarian Republic signed a new agreement in Belgrade with the allied countries. The delegation from the Entente was then headed by a French general. He imposed tougher terms than Hungary expected.
At the same time, the newly formed republic found itself in an economic blockade and under military-political pressure, which could only be lifted after the signing of the agreement. In November 1918, the size of the Hungarian army was significantly reduced. Due to this, the armed forces of Yugoslavia, Romania and Czechoslovakia during the winter of 1918-1919. expanded their territories, seizing the lands of the young republic.
Conflict resolution
At the end of February 1919, a special commission led by the French representative Andre Tardieu at the Paris Peace Conference proposed to disengage the troops of Hungary and Romania, and to introduceAmerican, French, Italian and British troops.
20 March France sends an ultimatum note to the Hungarian Republic. In it, the government is required to recognize the border along the line of location of the republican troops on the day the note was drawn up. Hungarian President Karolyi, realizing that his consent would lead to the loss of a vast territory, resigns and transfers full power and, accordingly, the need to solve the problem that has arisen to the social democratic forces. They, in turn, unite with the communists and form a coalition government. Shandora Garbai became its formal leader, and Bela Kun became its actual leader. On March 21, the Hungarian Soviet Republic was proclaimed.
Hungary's defeat
Bela Kun wanted to sign a peace treaty with the Entente countries. He even met Jan Smuts, the future premier of the South African Union. But France and Britain did not react to these negotiations.
Soviet Hungary understood that there would be no softening of conditions by the allied states, therefore, it counted on the support of communist Russia and the socialist revolution. The Entente countries, in turn, tried by all means to aggravate the situation of the republic. The country found itself in a complete blockade, direct military intervention began. At the initial stages, the Hungarian army held the defense and even went on the counteroffensive: the Slovak Republic was proclaimed in the eastern and southern parts of Slovakia.
After the victory of the Hungarian army over the Czechoslovak troops, the presidentAmerica, Wilson had to send an invitation to the Hungarian government to the Paris conference. At the same time, Hungary received an ultimatum from Clemenceau. In it, the French prime minister demanded that the Hungarian army be withdrawn from Slovakia, withdrawn behind the demarcation line, which was established in early November. In return, it was promised to stop the intervention by Romania.
The socialist government of Hungary accepted the terms of the ultimatum. However, the allied states not only did not allow the leadership of the republic to a peaceful settlement, they did not fulfill their earlier obligations, continuing the offensive on the territory of the country. As a result, Soviet power in Hungary fell. Only after the victory over the government of the Republic was it invited to Paris.
Negotiations
Instead of the Social Democrats in Hungary, counter-revolutionary and anti-communist forces came to power under the leadership of Miklós Horthy. This government was more convenient for the Entente, but the terms of the negotiations were not softened at all.
One of the developers of the Trianon Treaty of 1920 was Edvard Benes. This diplomat and prominent politician was considered the "architect" of Czechoslovakia. He insisted on putting forward tough demands to Budapest, because he believed that it was the Hungarian government that was more guilty of starting the war than official Vienna.
A delegation from Hungary arrived in Paris led by Count Albert Appony. After 8 days, the draft Trianon Treaty was handed over to the delegates.
The Entente countries agreed onlyfor minor concessions and allowed for minor amendments. For example, on the issue of the size of the Hungarian Armed Forces, the wording regarding the number of police and gendarmerie officers was slightly softened. An increase in staff was allowed, however, if "the Control Commission finds that the number is insufficient."
The Hungarian government actually had no opportunity to influence the terms of the Treaty of Trianon. In March 1920, the delegation left for home.
Final stage of preparation
March 8, the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs discussed for the last time issues related to the establishment of the borders of Hungary. The British Prime Minister allowed revision of the conditions formulated earlier, but the representative of France categorically rejected the possibility of revision. Nevertheless, the new chairman of the peace conference in Paris, Alexander Millerand, after reading the text of the draft Trianon Treaty, compiled an appendix to it. It allowed for the possibility of a subsequent revision of the borders of Hungary.
Hungarian diplomats, having received the draft with the attachment, thought that the agreement would be temporary and signed it.
Entry into force
The ratification of the Treaty of Trianon took place in 1920, on November 15th. After the signing by the key countries of the Entente, the agreement entered into force. However, the US president refused to ratify the Treaty of Trianon. Instead, a separate agreement was signed in 1921, on August 29. In October, this agreement was approved by the US Senate.
Terms of Agreement
The Trianon Treaty was drawn up following the example of the Saint-Germain Agreement of 1919. Separate sections coincided almost verbatim.
The text included 364 articles, which were combined into 14 parts. In addition, the agreement contained a protocol and a declaration.
Under the treaty, Hungary lost many territories:
- Eastern regions of Banata and Transylvania were given to Romania.
- The western regions of Banata, Bačka and Croatia became part of the Yugoslav kingdom.
- Parts of Ugocha, Maramarosh, Komarma, Nograd, Bereg, Nitor and Ung received Czechoslovakia.
- Burgenland retreated to Austria. But it is worth saying that the official annexation of this territory provoked a crisis. The offensive into the region of the Austrian police was stopped by Hungarian snipers, who were supported by Hungarian troops. Through the mediation of Italian diplomats, the crisis was resolved. In December 1921, a referendum was held, as a result of which the districts of Bergenland, where the Hungarian population was predominant, voted for joining Hungary.
Political provisions
In accordance with them, Hungary renounced any of its rights and the grounds for their occurrence in relation to the territories of the former Austria-Hungary, which were ceded to Austria, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Italy and Yugoslavia. At the same time, the independence of Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia was proclaimed.
The Hungarian government tookthe obligation to provide the entire population with absolute protection of life, freedom, without regard to origin, nationality, religion, race, language. All people were to receive equal political and civil rights.
