Wartime American Plans for a New Hungary

Document 11

Secret T Document 388

October 16, 1943

THE PROBLEM OF SUBCARPATHIAN RUTHENIA: ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS

I. REUNION OF SUBCARPATHIAN RUTHENIA WITH CZECHO-SLOVAKIA

In view of the record of progressive achievement of Subcarpathian Ruthenia within Czechoslovakia, reunion with Czechoslovakia may will be the best possible solution of the problem of Subcarpathian Ruthenia. The reasons for and the conditions of such restoration are similar to those advanced in 1919. Simple restoration, however, might not solve the problem, since it might leave open the door for new revisionism on the part of Hungary, or possibly on the part of the Soviet Union. Granted the development of a genuine Ukrainian national movement, it is possible to conceive of still another angle of this problem.

Restoration has been demanded by the Czechoslovak Government-in-exile in London, which refuses to recognize either the Munich Settlement, the Vienna Award or the Magyar conquest of Ruthenia. The Soviet Union, in the summer of 1942, approved restora- tion of the Pre-Munich frontiers of Czechoslovakia, and the Czechoslo- vak Government has interpreted this position to include the restoration of Subcarpathian Ruthenia to Czechoslovakia. The British and Ameri- can governments did not recognize the Hungarian conquest of Ruthenia, though they are not committed to the restoration of any specific frontiers.

II. RESTORATION OF SUB-CARPATHIAN RUTHENIA TO

CZECHOSLOVAKIA WITH MINOR FRONTIER

RECTIFICATIONS IN FAVOR OF HUNGARY

Restoration of Subcarpathian Ruthenia to Czechoslovakia might be effected with minor frontier rectifications in favor of Hungary particu- larly in the southwestern portion of Ruthenia. Retention by Hungary, for example, of the line of November 1938, would involve cession to Hungary of about 612 square miles of territory, and a total population of about 172,000(1930), of whom approximately 36,700 (21 percent)were Ruthenians,86,600 (50 percent) were Magyars,25,800 (15 percent) Jews, 17,200 (10 percent) were Czechoslovaks, and 4,900 (2,8 percent) were Germans. The heaviest concentration of Magyars is in the district of Berehovo (Bereg), with 45,277 Magyars out of a total population of 63,143 (1930). The primary difficulty of even the smallest frontier rectification, however, is that it would threaten communications between Uhorod, Mukaevo, and Chust, within Subcarpathian Ruthenia, and would break communications between Subcarpathian Ruthenia and the rest of Czechoslovakia. It would also take from Subcarpathian Ruthenia a portion of its rich land in the valley of the Tisza. III. RETENTION OF SUBCARPATHIAN RUTHENIA BY

HUNGARY

Retention of Subcarpathian Ruthenia by Hungary involves the inclusion of more than 430,000 Ruthenians and about 35,000 Czechs and Slovaks in Hungary, in order to "liberate" 115,000 Magyars. Aside from the principle of nationality involved in uniting these Magyars to Hungary, the only genuine argument in support of this solution is the economic one of uniting the Ruthenian mountain and plain in any economic "unity" with the Hungarian plain. There is, however, no evidence at present of any desire for this solution on the part of any important number of Ruthenians. There is also no evidence that the Magyars would permit a free development of the Ruthenian nationality, such as there was in the Czechoslovak Republic. Retention of Ruthenia by Hungary would cut Czechoslovak railway communications to the east, and out off possible communications with the Soviet Union and with Rumania. On the other hand, if Poland regains Eastern Galicia, retention of Subcarpathian Ruthenia by Hungary would make Poland and Hungary neighbors.

IV. ASSIGNMENT OF SUBCARPATHIAN RUTHENIA TO THE

SOVIET UNION

Subcarpathian Ruthenia might be incorporated in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, as part of the Ukrainian S.S.R. (area: 170,978 square miles; population; 40,000,000), with whose people the Ruthenians are related. Union within the U.S.S.R. might take place especially if the Soviet Union retains Northern Bukovina and the portions of Poland occupied in 1939.

This solution would bring the Soviet Union across the Carpathian Mountains into the heart of Central Europe, vastly increasing its influence in the entire Danubian Basin. The Soviet Union, however, has apparently committed itself to the restoration of Subcarpathian Ruthenia to Czechoslovakia, though this does not preclude the possibili- ty of a different policy in the future, in view of the national attraction of the Ruthenians toward union with the Ukrainians.

V. UNION OF SUBCARPATHIAN RUTHENIA WITH AN

INDEPENDENT UKRAINIAN STATE

Another possibility for Subcarpathian Ruthenia lies in its union with an independent Ukrainian state which would include the present Soviet Frontiers of Hungary 223

Ukraine, Northern Bukovina, Eastern Galicia, Volhynia, and Subcarpa- thian Ruthenia. The population of this state would be about 47,000,000. A prerequisite to the achievement of this unlikely solution would be the break-up of the Soviet Union.

VI. UNION WITH A SMALL WEST UKRAINIAN STATE

Creation of a small West Ukrainian State also represents a possible alternative. This solution would involve the forrner Austro-Hungarian territories of Eastern Galicia, Northern Bukovina and Subcarpathian Ruthenia. The population is mostly Uniate in religious affiliation, and it has had the experience of living together under the former Dual Monarchy. There is less cultural difference among them than between Ruthenia and the Soviet Ukraine. The area of such a state would be about 29,190 square miles and the population about 6,000,000. The only substantial minorities are Poles and Magyars. It is doubtful, however, that such a state would be strategically, politically or economically viable.

VII. UNION OF SUBCARPATHIAN RUTHENIA WITH POLAND

Another possibility lies in the union of Subcarpathian Ruthenia with Poland which some Polish circles have desired. This would mean the union of the 450,000 Ruthenians of Subcarpathian Ruthenia with the 5,000,000 Ruthenians of Eastern Galicia and Volhynia in Poland. The Polish record with respect to the Ruthenian populations of Poland in the period from 1918 to 1939 has been such as to render this solution unlikely of serious consideration. Such a solution, moreover, would involve serious difficulties between Poland and the Soviet Union.

VIII. SUBCARPATHIAN RUTHENIA AS AN INDEPENDENT

STATE

A final possible solution lies in the establishment of Subcarpathian Ruthenia as an independent state. Such a state would be too weak, politically, strategically and economically, to constitute a genuinely viable community. This solution was rejected in 1919 because of its obvious impossibility. There has been little evidence since 1919, moreover, to indicate that the Ruthenians of Subcarpathian Ruthenia desire an independent state or consider it viable.

PS:HNHoward:mhp Box 65

Wartime American Plans for a New Hungary