Vladimír Nosek

“ The war has only accentuated national dissensions instead of placating them for the benefit of the State. The Government appears, therefore, to be confronted with a problem which cannot possibly be solved to the satisfaction of both parties, as they are faced with the choice of the bitter opposition of either the Germans or the Czechs. ”

“ Relying upon the Czech declaration of 6 January in favour of Czecho-Slovak independence, we claim the right of self-determination for all the nations, including also the Western Slavs, because only thus can an honourable and lasting peace be established. ”

“ The writer states in conclusion that “the Austrian Germans, whom we may divide into a court aristocracy with Anglo-Roman culture and taste, a capitalist bourgeoisie steeped in Jewish influence, and a Nationalist, Socialist and Christian-Social democracy, ought to be able to preserve the German character and the unity of Austria if they hold together. They need Germany’s support, without which they cannot exist unless they are treacherous to German interests. No other political attitude is possible for them. ”

“ Bohemia will be a rich and self-supporting country of at least some 12 million inhabitants. In the North she will border on a united Poland with whom she may conclude a close alliance, assuring her an outlet to the sea. The Danube will connect the Czecho-Slovaks with their friends the Yugoslavs and Rumanians in the South. Austria and Hungary, reduced to their proper racial boundaries will number about 8 million each, and will be in a hopeless strategic and economic position. This settlement will shatter for ever the German plans of Central Europe and Berlin-Bagdad. ”

“ Through their own efforts and notwithstanding all obstacles on the part of the Austrian Government, the Czecho-Slovaks have, before the war, become an advanced and wealthy nation, possessing everything, in fact, except their actual State sovereignty. ”

“ The Czecho-Slovak nation to-day.
The Czecho-Slovak territories, which are four times the size of Belgium, are rich and well-developed economically. Expeditions came to Bohemia and Moravia from Russia and elsewhere to become acquainted with the efficient methods of Czech agriculture. We need not dwell on the importance of Bohemian glass, sugar and beer industries, for which the Czechs are famous all over the world. The largest part of sugar and fine glass imported to England came from Bohemia. Bohemia is also rich in coal, iron, silver, copper and other metals. ”

“ The Jugoslavs and Ruthenes apparently agreed to take part ip the Sub-Committee while the Czechs were by no means unanimous in the matter, though it was a question of tactics rather than of principle. The Czech Socialists and Clericals lead by Šmeral and Hruban were in favour of going to Vienna, not for the purpose of negotiating a compromise, but in order to emphasise the unanimous Czech demand of 30 May for the union of all Czechs and Slovaks in an independent, democratic, Bohemian State. ”

“ In consequence of the generous British declaration, the National Council has been able to organise as a real governmental institution and to exercise all the rights and powers of a real Government, representing a fully independent State. ”

“ Since the beginning of the war the Czecho-Slovak Nation has resisted the common enemy by every means in its power. The Czecho-Slovaks have constituted a considerable Army fighting on three different battle-fields and attempting in Russia and Siberia, to arrest the Germanic invasion. ”

“ It is not, of course, the dismemberment of a nation, for Austria is not a nation, but a conglomeration of nations, or, as the Czech deputy Stransky put it in the Austrian Reichsrat in June 1918, “a century old crime against the liberties of mankind, a hideous dream, a load of tyranny, a nightmare and nothing else ”

“ The longest-living author of this work died in 1964, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 59 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works. ”

“ They are a stubborn race, always ready to face danger, although on the other hand there is also the Slay meekness and kindness in them. They are also very efficient in science and organisation, and like all Slavs the Czecho-Slovaks are extremely fond of art and especially of music. ”