30 SEPTEMBER 1938, Page 2

Hungary and the Little Entente If Czechoslovakia has been assisted

in her dealings with Poland by the Soviet Union, in her negotiations with Hungary the Little Entente has come to her support Indeed, the situation created by Hungary's claims to the return of her minorities is precisely of the kind which the Little Entente was formed to meet ; only in this case it is not Hungary alone, but Germany, which is pressing the Hungarian claims. It might appear that the situation had been foreseen, as the members of the Little Entente signed a pact of non-aggression with Hungary at Bled, on August 23rd. Thus President Benes, fearing an attack from Hungary, reminds her that the pact is still in force ; and Hungary, in reply to a warning from Jugoslavia and Rumania, reminds Jugoslavia that the pact is still in force. Whether it will be kept is a different matter ; but for the moment at least Czechoslovakia has been given invaluable time for negotiating on the Hungarian claims. It is to be hoped that Jugoslavia will maintain the attitude she has adopted. The Prime Minister, Dr. Stoyadinovitch, is indeed notoriously sympathetic to Ger- many ; but sympathy may have to give way before fear of the results of the break up of Czechoslovakia and the pressure of popular opinion. Pan-Slavism is as real a force as Pan- Germanism.