Vladimír Nosek

“ We would greet it as a guarantee of a better future if the ‘Union of the Western Slav Nations’ proposed by the Polish National Democrats were accepted by the Polish Club. For the Western Slavs, the Poles, Czechs, and Jugoslavs, the only real policy is to form a united opposition bloc against Vienna. All these three nations have the same ideals: national unity and independence on the basis of self-determination. And as we have a common aim, we ought to have a common way to it; all nations longing for liberty will obtain it if they will support each other. ”

“ 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 realization of the national unity and independence of the Poles, Czecho-Slovaks, Roumanians, Jugoslavs and Italians, would reduce Austria and Hungary to their proper racial boundaries. Austria and Hungary would then be States of not more than about 8 million inhabitants each, and would be without any political, military, or economic value to Germany. A close alliance between united Poland and Bohemia would mean an economically and politically strong anti-German block of 40 million people. ”