CORRESPONDENCE.
THE LIBERATION OF THE CZECHO-SLOVAKS.
[To THE EDITOR Of THE *. SPECT1T0R."1
$m,—An interesting feature of the Allied Note is the special place granted by the Entente Governments to the Czechs and Slovaks of Austria-Hungary, which is a sign that the Allies realize their importance in the future reconstruction of Europe.
The Czecho-Slovaks are the Western vanguard of the Slav race to Europe, inhabiting Bohemia, Moravia, Silesia, and Slovakia (northern part of Hungary), an area four times as large as Belgium, which would occupy eighth place among the European States (after the Kingdom of Poland) in the reconstructed Europe. The economic independence of these countries would be assured swing to their natural resources supplying almost everything except salt. They are called "the pearl of Austria," being the richest countries in the Monarchy, and are paying the greater part ad the Austrian expenses. Their population is about thirteen
millions, with a German minority of about three. millions. Owing to the strategical importance of the present natural frontiers between Bohemia and Germany it would be impossible to leave • out this minority, which is largely mixed with the Czech popula- tion; but the problem could be satisfactorily solved by granting them a full political and national freedom. On the other hand, there would be a Czecho-Slovak minority of about eight hundred thousand left under the Austrian, Magyar, and German domina- tion. The lack of an outlet to the sea could easily be counter- balanced by commercial treaties with neighbouring countries. Switzerland's industrial and commercial development is in no way hindered for the same reason.
In claiming the rights of independence the Czecho-Slovaks do not claim anything new. They were independent before the federation with Austria and Hungary in 1526, which was intended as a barrier against the Turkish invasion of Europe, and con- stitutionally they never lost their independence. The federation with Austria was a free union, in which Bohemia had equal rights with Austria- and Hungary, and the Hapsburgs only an elective right to the throne of Bohemia. In 1541 a fire in Prague destroyed the State archives in which the terms of this federation were registered, and Ferdinand I. succeeded in inducing a certain part of the Czech nobility to confer the rights of succession en his family. Since then a series of struggles started between the Hapsburgs and the Czechs over the hereditary right to the Bohemian Crown, culminating in the battle of White Mountain (1620), in which the majority of the Bohemian aristocracy, who opposed the Hapsburgs, was defeated. From this moment the Hapsburgs inaugurated a policy of persecution and centralization and Germanization, intended to deprive the Czechs of their national rights and to strengthen the absolutist power of, the Hapsburg dynasty.
For over a hundred years it seemed that they almost succeeded. for the Czech nation, exhausted and ravaged by long wars, could not offer a strong resistance; but at the end of the eighteenth century, owing to the spiritual currents coming from France and the efforts of a few patriots to revive the almost forgotten Czech language and literature, the national conscience of Bohemia came to a new life, and the Czechs began to struggle again against the Government of Vienna, claiming the restitution of their ancient liberties. In 1848 a revolution broke out, first in Prague, then in Vienna, against the absolutist, reactionary regime of Prince Metternich, which brought about his fall and, the restitu- tion of Constitutional rights and freedom to the Czech people. But shortly afterwards a policy of absolutist reaction was intro- duced again under the Ministry of Bach (1853-59), which came to an abrupt end on the battlefields of Magenta and Solferino in Italy. Once again the Austrian Government was compelled to resort to Parliamentary life. In 1867, after Sadowa, where the last hopes of Hapsburg predominance over the German States were defeated by Prussia, the Austrian statesmen were forced to yield to the claims of the Magyars for restitution of autonomous rights to Hungary, and the Centralistic Austrian Empire became a Dual Monarchy. The same promise was given by Francis Joseph in 1870 to the Czech nation and renewed in 1871, but never redeemed. It must not be forgotten that the Czech nation struggled against the Germans and Magyars of Austria because they became more and more the tools of Germany. During these struggles, and in spite of the persecution and oppression, which culminated in a regime of terrorism during this war, they remained true to their national Slav policy, of which the present desire of independence is the logical outcome.
The Matin of January 3rd wrote :— " It cannot be without importance for the prosecution of the war that Austria-Hungary continues to be the prey of internal troubles. The Entente has in the Czechs of Bohemia sincere friends. It would be an act of justice and a measure of high opportunity to declare that in the coming reconstruction of Central Europe free Bohemia, united with the Slovaks of Northern Hungary, will constitute the beet guarantee for the future peace of Europe. The resurrection of the Czech State would be the strongest barrier against the creation of an Austro- German-Balkanic State. Since the Allies identify themselves with the programme of liberation of the Slays, Italians, and Rumanians of Austria-Hungary, it would be just to grant a special place in the future reconstruction of Europe to the Czechs, who deserve it through their fine qualities as well as through their geographical position, which is bound to make out of them an indispensable Ally of the anti-Germanic Entente."
It was Bismarck who said : " The master of Bohemia will be master of Europe." The Allied Governments are to be congratu- lated on the right interpretation of these words—not in the sense of conquest, as he meant them, but in the sense of humanity and freedom. They realize that the principle of nationality is the only possible basis of the European reconstruction. Besides, in recognizing the necessity of liberation of the subjugated non- German and non-Magyar nationalities of Austria-Hungary they found the best way how to check Germany's aggreEsion and weaken her militarism, which constitutes a serious menace to the future life of Etirope.—I am, Sir, &c., J. Foutts.
Czech Press Bureau, 231 Strand, W.C. _ [The above affords a complete answer to Mi. Noel Buxton's etrange.letter published in many of last Saturday's papers. That letter, which -reached us too late for publication, appeared to eadoree the mischievous suggestion that the Bohemian " Czechos Slovaks " do not want national independence,—ED. Spectator.]
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