A. Conference is sitting in Pra g ue, practically, though not n o m ipp,11y,
under the presidency of the Emperor of Austria, which it is hoped may terminate the long dispute between the Gernapp and the Czech Deputies. The latter, who represent 3,000,000 people, say Bohemia is theirs, that it ought to be Ry!.itOjEt0E00118, and that until it is they must, in the interest of the* race, as well as out of respect to their history, treat the Kingdom as essentially a Slav State. The .language, for example„used in the Courts, in the schools, and in 460 documents must Ile Czech. The Germans, who repre- sent 2,000,000, say, in reply, that, theirs is the higher civilisation, that they do all the work of oe country, that they own most a its soil, and that, although they are willing to acknowledge tht Bohemia is a Slur State, they must protect the German language in sehoofs and districts in *144 the majority is German. Till that is conceded, they wig not enter the Diet, The contest, though it rages "'Mind 11111glIfl.p as a ptirpt; has pf pourse, a deeper orien; but the Emperor hopes some modus vivendi may ultimately be found. The proceedings of the Conference are kept strictly secret, but a favourable issue is hardly hoped for. So excited are the Czechs that, although strict Catholics, they hold meetings in honour of John Huss, and though willing to accept the German proposals if autonomy is conceded, they reject them under the present condition of affairs. The dis- cussion certainly does not show that the modern spirit is incompatible with race-hatred.
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