Note 43 — Chapter VIII · THE MAGYAR MINORITIES IN THE NEW STATES
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These terms of the Treaty are embodied in the Czechoslovak Constitution, which contains the following provisions:—
128.
1. All Czechoslovak citizens are fully equal before the law and enjoy the same civil and political rights, without distinction of race, language or religion.
2. Differences of religion, confession, opinion or language can be no bar to a Czechoslovak citizen, within the limits fixed by the general laws, particularly to admission to the public service, offices or honours, or in the exercise of the various professions or industries.
3. Czechoslovak citizens may, within the limits fixed by the general laws, employ freely any language, in private or commercial matters, in the exercise of their religion, in the Press or in any form of publication, or at public meetings.
4. The rights in these respects belonging to State agencies according to the laws at present in force or those which may be passed in the future, in the interests of public order, the safety of the State or of efficient supervision, are not prejudiced by the foregoing.
129.
The principles of the right of language in the Czechoslovak Republic are fixed by a definite law forming part of the Constitution.
130.
The general laws according to citizens the right to establish, direct and control at their own expense charitable, religious or social institutions, schools and other educational establishments—all citizens, without distinction of nationality, language, religion or race, are equal and enjoy the right to use freely their own tongue and practise freely their religion in these establishments.
131.
In towns and districts containing a reasonable proportion of Czechoslovak subjects speaking a language other than Czechoslovak, the children of these Czechoslovak subjects are guaranteed the possibility, within the limits fixed by the general educational laws, of receiving instruction in their own tongues, but Czechoslovak may be declared an obligatory subject.
132.
In cases where in towns and districts inhabited by a reasonable proportion of Czechoslovak subjects belonging to racial, religious or linguistic minorities, certain portions of the public revenue are earmarked for educational, religious or charitable purposes by State, communal or other budgets, part of the amount so earmarked, corresponding to the appropriation and the objects, shall be applied to these minorities, within the limits of the general regulations concerning the public administration.
133.
The putting into force of the principles of 131 and 132, and particularly the definition of the expression “Reasonable proportion,” will be provided for by special legislation.
134.
Any measures of forced denationalisation whatever are forbidden. Violation of this principle may be declared by law a criminal act.