Josef Křenek

“ The Germans lost their religion for the sake of their nation: the Bohemians lost their nation for the sake of their religion. In other words, Bohemia lost its independence because it valued above all else, ideals. And today America is staking its all in the dangerous game of war because it, too, believes in ideals. ”

“ Free Bohemia is essential to the realization of the great liberative purposes of this war. We shudder today at the very thought of barbarism and ruthlessness through which the conquering ambitions of Germany and Austria are sought to be realized. But we do not acknowledge the great service which the small nations of Central Europe, and of Austria in particular, have rendered to the cause of humanity in the past. Politically, they were enslaved, but national consciousness was alive in them, and they never ceased to hope for their liberation. ”

“ Our decision, born in pain and free from all the thought of national selfishness, carries us into the footsteps of the Great Redeemer. We are persuaded that our share in the terrible tragedy will prove to be an honest service and magnanimous sacrifice upon the altar of humanity’s freedom. ”

“ The entrance of America into the war will be put down by future historians as the real turning point in the course of this seemingly endless slaughter. We have given the war a new significance; or, at least, we have made its real object clear. ”