The Czechoslovak Review/Volume 4/Government of Rusinia Organized

by Government of Czechoslovakia

Government of Rusinia Organized

The Peace Conference joined the Rusins of Hungary at their own request to the Czechoslovak Republic and provided that they should have a full measure of self-government. In pursuance of this decision the following proclamation was issued at Užhorod, the capital of Rusinia, on November 18 by General Hennocque, military commander, countersigned by Dr. Brejcha, civil administrator:

In the name and by order of the government of the Czechoslovak Republic, as the supreme commander of Carpathian Russia, I hereby proclaim and announce:

Age old desires of oppressed nations have been fulfilled. Carpathian Russia is free, and the Czechoslovak Republic without delays, even prior to the election of a diet, lays the foundation for the autonomous administration of Carpathian Russia in those spheres which the Paris treaty leaves to the free decision of the nation.

Therefore with a view to the welfare of the autonomous territory and in the spirit of obligations assumed the government of the Czechoslovak Republic decided to issue the General Statute for the organization and administration of Carpathian Russia.

After mature consideration the government of the Czechoslovak Republic entrusted the affairs of Carpathian Russia to an administrator; it expects that all patriots of eminence who take part in the administration of the territory through the directory will sustain him in his diffcult task.

The General Statute is as follows:

The government, after conferences with eminent citizens and representatives of the people of Carpathian Russia, lays down the following general principles for the organization and administration of Carpathian Russia:

I.

At the Paris Peace Conference the following treaty was adopted between the five Great Powers and the Czechoslovak Republic:

1. The Czechoslovak Republic agrees to organize Rusin territory south of the Carpathians, within limits determined by the principal Allied and Associated Powers, into an autonomous unit of the Czechoslovak state and will grant it the highest measure of self-government consistent with the unity of the Czechoslovak State.

2. Rusin territory south of the Carpathians will have its own diet. This diet will exercise legislative power in all language, school and religious questions, in matters of local autonomy and in other questions which may be entrusted to it by the laws of the Czechoslovak Republic. The governor of the Rusin territory who will be appointed by the president of the Czechoslovak Republic will be responsible to the Rusin diet.

3. The Czechoslovak Republic agrees that officials in Rusin territory will be as far as possible selected from among the inhabitants of this territory.

4. The Czechoslovak Republic guarantees to the Rusin territory just representation in the legislative body of the Republic through deputies elected in accordance with the constitution of the Czechoslovak Republic. These deputies shall not have the right to vote in the Czechoslovak parliament on such legislative subjects, as are within the jurisdiction of the Rusin diet.

II.

The territorial commission of the Paris Peace Conference settled the boundaries in the following manner: a) The demarcation line between Slovaks and Rusins shall run in a direct line from the city of Cap (Csap) to the northern part of Užhorod (Ungvar), so that the railroad remains in Slovakia and Užhorod in Rusinia, and thence along the river Už (Ung) toward the Carpathians. All territory east of this line shall be considered to be the autonomous Rusin territory.

b) The southern boundary of autonomous Rusin territory was determined by the Peace Conference so that the line from Čap runs to the south, the railroad remains on Rusin territory up to Maramoros Sihot which is given to Roumania; further the boundary runs partly along the river Tisa in an easterly direction to the northern boundary which is identical with the boundary between former Hungary and Galicia.

c) Because a part of the Rusin people forms a minority on Slovak territory, as determined by the Peace Conference, the Czechoslovak government recommended to the representatives of both nations to agree as to eventual addition of contiguous Rusin territory to the autonomous Rusin province.

III.

Until the future diet settles this question, the historical name Carpathian Russia (or Russia under the Carpathians) shal be used; it is also permissible to use the term Rusinia.

In the schools the language of the people will be the language of instruction and the official language in general. The needed Rusin schools shall be organized as rapidly as possible. The Rusin language will be the language of instruction in the lower classes and will gradually enter the higher classes. During the period of transition the Magyar language will be retained in the existing schools in the higher grades; the Rusin language will be in all cases a required subject.

Schools of the Magyar minority will be protected, like all minorities in the Republic, by the decisons of the Peace Conference applying to minorities and by the laws and decrees of the Republic.

IV.

With a view to the strengthening of order and laying proper foundations for the new general and autonomous administration, the government in accordance with article I. of the above treaty has appointed a temporary administrator who will be assisted by necessary officials. The government has also appointed a temporary Rusin autonomous directory. The directory will be the advisory council for legislation and administration in all language, school and religious questions and in matters of local administration. The advisory function of the directory applies also to the appointment and recall of all officials and employees, entrusted with the administration of the above named subjects, These officials will be appointed by the administrator and will be subject and responsible to him.

If the administrator and the directory disagree upon any question enumerated in the preceding paragraph, the question will be submitted to the president of the republic or some other person, except the administrator, selected by the president. The decision of the president or his appointees shall be final and authoritative. Until then the question shall be considered pending.

The directory will be divided into departments, and it may also be heard upon questions common to the entire state.

The administrator shall assign to the directory necessary clerical assistance.

The office of administrator and of the autonomous directory will cease to exist, when the Rusin autonomous constitution, based on the decisions of the Paris Conference, comes into effect. The election of members of the Rusin diet will take place not later than 90 days after elections to the National Assembly of the Czechoslovak Republic. The offices of administrator and directory are provisional and shall not constitute a precedent for the future.

Rusinia will have its own public finances. Until definitely regulated the state will pay all expenses of administration which will in the future be separately audited.