CZECHS AND SLOVAKS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18760, 13 January 1923, Page 13

CZECHS AND SLOVAKS

STRUGGLE FOR LIBERTY. THRILLING CHAPTER IN HISTORY (From Opr Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON. January 12. When the historian of the future relegates (o their proper perspective (he events of the past decade, his chronicle will contain no more thrilling chapter than tho struggle of tho Czechs and Slovaks for their liberty and their establishment over tho ruins of tho Austro-Hungarian Empire a new republic) which, in tlio minds of their students and philosophers, has tho moat democratic franchise and institutions in the world. From (he lips of one of these yesterday your correspondent hoard details at first hand of the struggle, and listened while the speaker in glowing periods described his country to-day as one o? the happiest, it not the happiest, community in the world. Dr Danes, the first Consular officer to represent the Czof ho-Slovakian Republic in the Southern Seas, is just about to return to I’rague, its capital, after serving three years in Australia. Ho is interestedly watching tho sessions of tho Science Congress which is sitting just now at Wellington, and at its close lie intends to spend two or three months in New Zealand, asking the people ho meets if they will still buy from the new republic their ally the glassware and porcelain of Bohemia which they formerly purchased from Hungary, and if they will co-operate with him in arranging the means of interchanging some of the dominion’s raw materials for manufactured articles from tho factories of the Czechs, or so much and such of them as will not already interfere with tho colonial predilection for British goods. ” ti ‘‘Your students will know ua belter, ’ said Dr Danes, ‘‘if 1 toll them that we comprise the historical Kingdom of Bohemia, with tho countries of Slovakia and. Russima which wore formerly known ua Upper Hungary. Wo belong to one of the historic nations of Europe, which never gave up its claim for independence of which its perjurous Kings—tho Hapsburg Emperors of Austria strove to deprive them. One thousand years of Czech or Bohemian history record a continuous struggle against Germanisatiou. The heroes of our nation —the famous Church reformer, John Huss, who lived in the early part of (lie fifteenth century; the groat educationist, John Amos Comenius; and the first President of the Czechoslovak Republic, Dr T. G. Masnryk. a great philosopher and statesman —were all spiritual leaders in tho people’s fight against the German and absolulislic oppression." In perfect English the visitor told how his countrymen—members of tho great Slav race —always vigorously opposed the Hapsburgs’ alliance with Germany, and from the beginning of the Great M ar did ajl in their power io weaken Austria-Hungary s nnblary and economic strength. The nation wont through incredible sufferings and privations wilfully inflicted by the Austrians and tho ectupai.ie.'i armies during the war. Hundreds of thousands of conscripted Czecho-Slovaks deserted to the Allies and formed tho famous Cr.echo-Slovak legions which in Franco, Italy, and Russia, helped tho Allies to overthrow the German, and Austrian impact.. Tho alnnbaais of the Czecho-Slnvaks through Russia and Siberia to Vladivostoek was one of (he most thrilling episodes of the war. The ideals of democracy, personal liberty, and true Christian humanism were always tho slogan of their struggles for liberty, and it was these ideals that brought them nearer and nearer to tho English-speaking nations of tho world. “It may interest you to know that New Zealand has something of a nicho in Czccho-Slovak literature," said the speaker diverging for (he moment from Ins accounts of the life and doings in his homeland. ‘‘A once very popular Czech book was Conek Pack's wide world travels, which recorded the impressions of Australia and Now Zealand of Pack, an honest, hardworking . gemi-ou.ttor whoso adventurous spirit carried him through all five Continents. Ho spent many months on tho goldfields of Canterbury and Otago, and was a keen observer of nature and mankind. Another countryman of mine, a naturalist and grammar school teacher — Joseph Koronsiky—visited Now Zealand in 1900. Pie was for years renowned among his countrymen as a. keen student of natural history and a writer cf interesting books of travel. His account of his trip to tho Antipodes enjoyed a very well-de-served popularity. Our country is half tho area of yours, but wo have 13,000,000 people. It is democratic in spirit, mentality, and constitution. In tho drafting of tno constitution I can assure you from my personal * knowledge that tho social laws of New Zealand were very closely studied. There are two Houses of Parliament —the Deputies and the Senate. Twenty-one years is the ago limit for tho franchise for tho Chamber of Deputies, and 26 years for the Senate, whoso members must bo at least 45 years of age.” “Wo have proportional representation,” he added, saying with a twinkle in his eye that he would not dwell on that aspect of the constitution, as he understood it was a somewhat contentious subject in New Zealand. There were 300 deputies and 150 senators who were paid ibaOO 71 year. The public debt was £3C0,003,000 at the present rate of exchange. In every 25 people one was a Magyar, six were Gormans and 18 Czechoslovakians. Tho two last-named parties formed the Opposition in Parliament in which there were several women members. There were four nJnd six-year intervals between the elections. “The present Government consisted of a coalition of IVitionnl forces, which watt 'effected about three months ago." Dr Danes, continuing, said: “Dr Bones, who, since the formation cf the Republic, three and a-half years ago, was one of tho most prominent statesmen of the small European States, was Prime Minister in tho former Cabinet. Nftw he is Minister of Foreign Affairs. Air Svelha, *the Leader of the Country Party, is now Prime Minister. M. Masaryk and Dr Bones arranged during the war meetings of the exiled statesmen of those now liberated nations. Very soon after tho Peace Conference, a close alliance of Czeeho-Slovnkia, Rumania, and Jugo-Slavia was formed, making up tho so-called Little Entente. Later Poland became very closely attached to this important conference of nations for the preservation of peace in Central Europe. Between the four there are 70,000.000 of a population, and nil these countries arc wonderfully rich in natural resources. Czechoslovakia is the best off industrially hut all promise to be a very important factor in general development and a sound guarantee against any development of a new imperialism. German and Magyar intrigue is very vigorous against the Stales of the Little Entente. The German leaders are not assimilating and do not wish to acknowledge the States created by tho Peace Treaty, hut the bulk of the German population behaves very loyally, knowing well that their economic development is more assured tinder tho new Republic than it would he under th present reckless economic policy in Germany or Austria. These intrigues are getting some sort of a hearing in portions of tho British and American press, but I can assure you that the complaints of tho Germans and Magyars are not at all justified. Their minorities in these States have been far better treated than were the Czechs. Rumanians, and Serbians under Austria-Hungary. Their former position of privileged nations makes it, very difficult for them to acknowledge their present position. Their chief complaint arises out of tho decision of tho Republic. It is quite natural, you wiT agree, tint education in the main shall follow tho Czcchn-Slovakian ideals. Yet of the four universities one is German, and there are sufficient numbers of German schools and colleges.” Czccho-Slovakia lias found it necessary to maintain an army of 150,9C0, said tho visitor. “This army has provided tho means of educating youths who had had no opportunity of being schooled before. Our international outlook is very good, and we are looking forward to a eontinuanco &f tho regime under which we have been able already to make vast strides in civil, industrial, nolili-al, and social progress, further than any of ns have dreamed of in outlives before,”