Hungarian Experiences Regarding the Effect of World Wars on International Treaties

The effect of war on international treaties has been a recurring question in legal doctrine and in the life of the international community. The only well-grounded declaration that can be made is that armed conflicts do not necessarily terminate international treaties. After the Second World War some comprehensive studies were published, especially in relation to the practice of the United States of America, but none regarding Hungary appeared. In the present article this issue is elaborated with the help of conducting a scientific investigation of the peace treaties, the exchange of notes following the wars and certain international practices. Besides multilateral treaties, emphasis is especially placed on Hungary's bilateral treaties with the parties to the Peace Treaty of Paris, altogether ten states, such as the USSR, USA, Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia. The Hungarian experiences fit the picture when "global" analysis is conducted. This examination of the influence of the Second World War proves a shift from the earlier determinant factor of the number of the parties to a treaty toward the subject of the treaty and intention of the parties.