The complicated troubles, avoidable and unavoidable, that have been
raging in Central Europe after the War are being met to some extent by
the Little Entente, an association in the first place between Yugoslavia
and the kindred Czecho-Slovakia, and afterwards between them and
Roumania. The world was assured that this union had for its object the
establishment of peace, security and normal economic activities in
Central and Eastern Europe; no acquisitive purposes were in the
background, and since these three States now recognized that if they try
to swallow more of the late Austro-Hungarian monarchy they will suffer
from chronic indigestion, we need not be suspicious of their altruism.
It is perfectly true that the first impulse which moved the creators of
the Little Entente was not constructive but defensive; their great
Allies did not appear, in the opinion of the three Succession States, to
be taking the necessary precautions against the elements of reaction.
Otherwise they, especially France (which was naturally more determined
that Austria should not join herself to Germany), would not have
favoured the idea of a Danubian Federation, in which Austria and Hungary
would play leading parts. The Great Powers would also, if they had been
less exclusively concerned with their own interests, have handled with
more resolution the attempts of Charles of Habsburg to place himself at
the head of the present reactionary regime at Buda-Pest; and if it had
not been for certain energetic measures taken by the members of the
Little Entente it may well be doubted whether the Government of Admiral
Horthy, which does not conceal the fact that it is royalist--the king
being temporarily absent--would have required Charles to leave the
country. The Little Entente pointed out to their great Allies what these
had apparently overlooked, namely, that the return of the Habsburgs was
not opposed by the Succession States out of pure malice but for the
reason that it would inevitably strengthen the magnates and the high
ecclesiastics in their desire to bring about the restoration of
Hungary's old frontiers. As the frontiers are now drawn there dwell--and
this could not be prevented--a number of Magyars in each of the three
neighbouring States (the fewest being in Yugoslavia), just as the
present Hungary includes a Czech-Slovak, Roumanian and Yugoslav
population.[71] But the Great Powers agree that if this frontier is to
be changed at all, every precaution should be taken against having it
changed by force. It is no exaggeration to say that there can be no
real peace in Central Europe until normal intercourse with Russia is
re-established, but let it in the meantime be the task of the Little
Entente to guard the temporary peace from being shattered.
Apart from this defensive object the countries of the Little Entente
have the positive aim of a resumption of normal economic conditions and
the institution of a new order of things in accordance with the new
political construction of Central and Eastern Europe. It is obvious that
these three States have numerous interests in common which make their
co-operation very natural, if not indeed indispensable.