# The Czechoslovak Review/Volume 3/The Month in Czechoslovakia

THE CZECHOSLOVAK REVIEW
OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE CZECHOSLOVAK NATIONAL COUNCIL OF AMERICA :
| Jaroslav F. Smetanka, Editor Published Monthly by the Bohemian Review Co., 2324 S. Central Park Ave., Chicago, Ill. |||
| Entered as second class matter April 30, 1917 at the Post Office of Chicago, Ill., under act of Congress of March 3, 1879. |||
| Vol. III, No. 12. | DECEMBER, 1919 | 15 cents a Copy $1.50 per Year |
The Month in Czechoslovakia
October 28 was a national holiday in the Czechoslovak Republic not only because the law made it so, but because every Czech and Slovak laid aside his work and forgot his worries in the joy of celebrating the first anniversary of the restoration of national independence. Every city and town and village had its own celebration, but Prague, the capital of the Republic, surpassed all its previous records in staging great national manifestations. On the eve of the great day a memorial service was held before a cenotaph, erected under the statue of Prince Václav on St. Václav Square. All day long distinguished guests and plain citizens brought flowers and wreaths and laid them on the cenotaph in memory of the Czechoslovak men who fell in the war. At the panichide held in the evening Premier Tusar took the place of President Masaryk who was ill. On the great day itself the weather was unfavorable; it rained almost without a break, but the streets were full. In the morning there were open air meetings in the public squares of Prague, military reviews, a reception by President Masaryk of the members of the “Maffia”, the secret band which corresponded with him during the war and led the revolutionary movement at home, followed by an official luncheon at the Castle to members of the government and of the diplomatic corps. Telegrams of congratulation were received from President Poincaré, Prince-Regent Alexander, Premier Nitti, Foreign Minister Balfour, Secratary Lansing, Ernest Denis, University of London and thousands of others. At the Paris Legation a reception was held which was attended by two members of the American peace delegation, General Bliss and Henry White, by French Foreign Minister Pichon, Marshal Foch and many other distinguished Frenchmen. Similar celebrations were held at other Czechoslovak legations, in Vienna, Belgrade, Rome and Washington.
The principal event of the first independence day of the Czechoslovak Republic was the address made by President Masaryk to members of the National Assembly who met for an extraordinary session at the Smetana Hall of the Prague Municipal House. It was feared that his illness would prevent him from fulfilling this part of the day’s program, but he managed to come and read his message, although with some difficulty. Since then he has entirely recovered. His address bears some traces of this indisposition, in that he was unable to elaborate the form which is thus even more sketchy than one expects from Masaryk. But his great mind, rich in stores of knowledge and deep in the quality of penetration, gave to his people a message worthy of all parties and it was read the next day by practically the entire nation. After one year of office Masaryk’s popularity and influence is as tremendous as ever. His message is given in translation elsewhere in this issue and it deserves to be read in its entirety; what he has to say of Russia and the bolsheviks is particularly of interest, because it presents the judgment of the author of “The Spirit of Russia” on the startling events which took place in Russia since his monumental work was written.
In his address Masaryk touches on the separation of state and church. This policy has been decided upon by the great majority of the nation, but so far the old Austrian laws on the relation of church and state have not been changed. A part of the Catholic hierarchy which grew up under the Austrian system still hopes to avert the
​separation which to them seems to be a great blow to the interests of the church. This attitude was expressed in an open letter addressed to President Masaryk by Cardinal Leo Skrbensky, archbishop of Olomouc. Masaryk in his reply, as in his speech to the National Assembly, emphasizes his interest in religion, but insists on separation as both inevitable and desirable. He says: “Your memorandum lays stress on the need of harmonious co-operation of church and state. With that I fully agree, but in my opinion this harmonious co-operation will be best reached by complete separation of church and state, where as Your Eminence does not wish to break the ties that bind the two. If you argue that success of the state demands close connection with the church, let me point to the fall of the Central Powers and particularly Austria-Hungary. It is Austria-Hungary which must be to us a warning against the danger of uniting church and state. Austria-Hungary and its dynasty abused the church for political ends and the result was political and moral decay. This experience with Austria and knowledge of modern democratic states which carried out the separation of church and state induce me to consider this reform necessary in the interest not merely of the state, but also of religion and morality.”
One of the novel features of the independence day celebration was the Marathon race, arranged by the Czech Sokol Union. From seven different corners of the Republic runners started at various hours so timed as to arrive at the Prague Castle with a message for the president before he sat down to the diplomatic luncheon. There were relays of runners every 200 meters and remarkable records were secured. The first message to reach the Castle was from Dombrova in Teschen, a distance of 433 kilometers (about 270 miles); the run was made in 18 hours and 28 minutes. The second message was from Bratislava, a distance of 278 miles, time 20 hours, 49 minutes; total number of Sokols who relayed this message was 2235. The third to arrive was the message from Nová Kdýně, distance 100 miles, time 7:21, fourth from Šumburk, 76 miles, time 5.23, fifth from Broumov, 126 miles, 10.45, sixth from Krumlov, 122 miles, 9.57, seventh from Ústí (Aussig), 83 miles, time 2.47. The entire distance covered was 1693 km. (1057 miles), total time 79 hours and 30 minutes; the number of runners participating was 8590. It should be remembered that it rained the whole day and that some of the runners had to cross mountain ranges covered with deep snow. On the whole it is a very creditable record which proves at least one thing—namely that the Sokols have a wealth of promising athletic material. They are getting ready for the Olympic games and expect to make at least as good a showing, as they made in the Interallied games, when they won the soccer football championship.
The peace treaties were ratified by the National Assembly on November 7. There were altogether six treaties and subsidiary documents which were voted on. The first was the treaty with Germany, the same Versailles treaty which was recently turned down by the United States Senate; then there was the treaty with Austria, next the special treaty providing for the protection of racial and religious minorities, executed between the United States, England, France, Italy and Japan on the one side and the Czechoslovak Republic on the other. The fourth diplomatic act to the ratified was the decision of the Supreme Council of the peace conference, dated June 12, establishing Czechoslovak boundaries as against Hungary; the fifth was another decision, dated August 7, establishing the boundaries as against Roumania, and the lost document approved by the National Assembly was the agreement to pay to the principal Allied and Associated Powers the sum of 750 million francs in gold, not as a war indemnity, but as a contribution to their war expenses or as price paid by the Czechoslovaks for their liberation by the Allies. The treaties had been considered at great length in the Committee on Foreign Affairs, where Dr. Beneš explained them in detail. Thus in the National Assembly itself which has before it many economic and financial problems only one day was given to the consideration of all these treaties. One speaker for each political party declared the attitude of his party toward the work of the Czechoslovak peace delegation, and while all regretted that certain claims, territorial and economic, had been turned down, all announced on behalf of their parties that they would vote favorably ​ The Castle of Prague from the Charles Bridge. ​on the ratification. Much emphasis was laid on the complaint that the reparations commission which would practically liquidate the bankrupt estate of the Austro-Hungarian empire had no Czechoslovak representative to look after the interests of the Republic. Dr. Benes pointed out that there was yet no treaty of peace with the Magyars who had no government with which the Allies could deal; Friedrich was unacceptable as identified too closely with monarchistic reaction. But the boundaries are settled definitely even as against the Magyars. At the end of the session the National Assembly ratified all six documents by a unanimous vote.
At the same session of the Assembly Premier Vlastimil Tusar made an appeal on behalf of the government for more intensive work by all classes of the people. The occasion was the recent unfavorable weather, snow and rain for the preceding ten days. This wintry spell came unexpectedly early, while a large proportion of sugar beets and potatoes was still in the ground. Potatoes are needed to supplement the insufficient ration of bread, and sugar is as important to Czechoslovak finance as gold, for it is relied upon to balance tlie trade with the West of Europe. Thus the unseasonable weather threatened a veritable calamity to the state. Tusar appealed particularly to the workingmen, to the adherents of his own party, the social democrats, to forget during the emergency about the eight hour law, to save the crops at whatever cost and to assist the state authorities in providing food for the cities. His appeal met with universal approval and what is more to the point, with considerable response.
An attempt to bribe the minister of foreign affairs created a great sensation. Negotiations had been going on in October for a credit of 300 million francs by French and Dutch banks to be advanced against the year’s sugar crop which these banks were to market abroad. Newspapers wrote of this deal as concluded and complaints were voiced that the terms were extortionate. Suddenly on October 31 Alois Jirák, bureau chief in the ministry of finance, and Otokar Tuma, director of the Prague Industrial Bank, were arrested for offering Dr. Edward Beneš, the foreign minister, 20 million crowns to withdraw his opposition to the proposed loan, as well as a tendering smaller bribe to Ludvik Štrympl, his secretary. Bribery of public officials has been almost unknown in Bohemia before and the indignation of the public was great, especially as one of the accused was a high public official himself. Minister of Justice. Dr. Veselý, announced the above particulars in the National Assembly and assured the deputies that both men who were not allowed bail would be rigorously prosecuted.
Czechoslovakia has ratified the peace treaties and it has no designs against the territories or wealth of its members. But it does not feel sufficiently safe to disarm. Its present government in which the socialists are the strongest element hopes in due course of time to abolish standing army and rely on militia. But for the present it finds it necessary to maintain a good-sized army and to hold on to conscription. The peace force is to be 111,255 men strong and the annual cost of its maintenance is estimated at 1304 million crowns. All young men physically fit are to serve 14 months under arms which time will be devoted to intensive drill. French methods will prevail in the Czechoslovak army. A large number of young officers have been received by the French government into the St. Cyr Academy. General Pellé, head of the French military mission, who during the brief war with Magyars was made Czechoslovak commander-in-chief, surrendered this office and was appointed instead to the position of chief of general staff; several other French high officers hold commands in the Czechoslovak army. Specially cordial relations are maintained with the Jugoslavs, and the visit of the Jugoslav minister of war, Gen. Hadžič, served to bring out the close friendship of the two Slav nations. Hadžič came with a large entourage to present a flag to the 48th Regiment, called the Jugoslav Regiment; the Jugoslavs on their side named one of their regiments the Jan Žižka Regiment. Some two thousand Jugoslav young men are enrolled as students at the University and the Polytechnic of Prague. Whatever happens, the Czechoslovaks and the Jugoslavs will remain good friends.
​In Slovakia great progress has been accomplished in furnishing schools to Slovak children. Under the Magyar rule only a minority of Slovak children received instruction in their own language; the great majority had to attend Magyar schools and the fact that there is today considerable illiterary in Slovakia is due to the fact that children were taught in a language which they did not understand. In the course of the first year of freedom public schools have been provided for all Slovak pupils, grammar schools have been established in the larger villages and towns, and 45 secondary schools with Slovak language of instruction have been opened. The whole system culminates in the Slovak university of Bratislava which was opened in November. For the education of Lutheran ministers a faculty of theology was established in Bratislava. One of the serious problems still remaining is the appointment of new Catholic bishops to episcopal sees in Slovakia; the former bishops were Magyars who fled upon the overthrow of Hungarian rule.
American ways and institutions are being introduced or copied in the Czechoslovak Republic. The country adopted the idea of national parks, and the historical castle of Karlštýn with the forests surrounding it has been proclaimed a national park. Other spots of historical interest and natural beauty will be gradually turned over to the nation for its enjoyment. Among American institutions which the Republic adopted are the Y. M. C. A. and Y. W. C. A. Even the Salvation Army has established a number of posts and finds support from the government and the people. The Czechoslovak Red Cross copies its methods and plans its work after the American Red Cross. Physical training is made compulsory in all schools, and team and track athletics is fostered by American instructors. In business American ways are held up for an example, although unfortunately it is not possible to introduce them generally overnight.
The government introduced in the National Assembly a bill for a new flag as the official flag of the Republic. The Czech national flag was white and red, the Slovak white, blue and red. The flag uses the three colors in a distinctive way: the upper half is white, lower red; from the left side a triangle or wedge of blue is inserted. The base of the triangle is the width of the flag, the point is on the line dividing the white field from red, one third of the distance from the left edge of the flag. Thus if the flag is three yards long and two yards wide, the white strip is three yards long at the top and two at the bottom, while the red strip is two yards at the top and three at the bottom; both strips are one yard wide. The colors of the Republic are, like the American colors, red, white and blue.
Coal crisis is a serious matter with the approach of winter. Although there are no coal strikes, the production is still far below the needs of country and the amount needed for export. Prague city council asked the government to suspend deliveries to neigboring countries, until home necessities are supplied, but the government is compelled by its pledges to the Allied coal commission to send large quantities weekly to Austria and Poland. Germany also gets some coal in exchange for coke and other raw materials, and as it sends its own cars for the coal, it gets all it contracted for. Lack of railroad cars is the greatest impediment to increase of production. The entire stock of the Republic numbers 53,000 cars, while its needs are fully twice as much.
Navigation on the Danube has been reopened. The Czechoslovaks operate now 3 steamers, 33 barges and 20 tank boats with which they do big business with Jugoslavia, Roumania and through Roumania with southern Russia. They bring in oil, tobacco, manganese ore, wool, hemp, grain, skins, fats, and give in exchange matches, sugar, woolen goods, bags, shoes, agricultural implements, steel products, bottles, medicines. The whole trade with the East is done on what is called compensation basis or speaking plainly barter. To the West is sold for real money glass, Gablonz ware, furniture, steel, and above all sugar. The preliminary estimate of sugar crop is seven and a half million quintals (825,000 tons), equal to the estimated yield for all of Germany. There is universal shortage of sugar; thus Germany expects to produce ​20 million quintals less than in 1913. Three fourths of the Czechoslovak crop is available for export. The latest reports state that it will be marketed through the Credit Lyonnais and the Živnostenská Bank of Prague. There is a difficult winter ahead of Czechoslovakia, what with the lack of coal and raw materials, and with crops not equal to the needs of the population. Yet it will be far less difficult than last winter. Unemployment has greatly decreased. Thus in the city of Prague, not including the suburbs, there were last winter 3242 persons drawing the unemployment grant, but on Oct. 31 only 785 were on the list. There is no political disorder and there are no strikes. The governmental machine is working much smoother, the boundaries are settled, except in the case of Teschen, there are no war clouds on the horizon, and bolshevism has ceased to be the bogeyman. On can hardly expect much improvement during the winter, but when spring comes around again, things should mend very rapidly.
Czechoslovakia is probably the only country in Europe which did not increase its stock of paper money during the past year. Of the money circulating in the country as a legacy of the Austrian regime about one third has been definitely retired and a good deal was hidden by Slovak peasants, so that today the financial columns of Prague papers speak of tight money. The interest rate on deposits has been raised by the banks to 3%, mounting to ⁠3+1/4⁠ on four months’ notice and ⁠3+1/2⁠ on six months’ notice. Banks are increasing their capital one after the other, thus the Bohemian Industrial Bank from 100 to 150 million crowns, the Agrarian Bank from 20 to 40 million. Much foreign capital, principally French and Dutch, is being invested in Czechoslovak industrial concerns. The Industrial Bank in connection with the Nederlandsche Handel Maatschappy of Amsterdam organized in Prague the Holland Czechoslovak Commercial Corporation Holbo, with capital of three million Holland gulden. The Czechoslovak crown is slowly climbing upward in the exchange markets. On November 20 it was quoted in Chicago at $1.70, the lowest quotation to which it sank; on December 1 it climbed up to $2.12 per hundred crowns, only about 11 percent of its normal value, but in comparison with its neighbors it is doing well. It manages to keep step with the German mark and it is far ahead of the currencies of the other portions of the former empire. Thus on December 1 Austrian crowns were worth only 86 cents per hundred, Jugoslav crowns $1.10, Magyar and Polish crowns had no value at all, and even the Polish mark which until recently enjoyed a higher quotation than the Czechoslovak crown went down to $1.70. When the world realizes that the Czechoslovak government is firmly established, that it will go slow on social and economic experiments, that the country has had a favorable balance in its foreign trade for the first nine months of the current year, Czechoslovak credit will improve rapidly.
The present ministry may not last until the elections which were planned for January. There is increasing disharmony between the two socialist parties, the social democrats and the Czechoslovak socialists. The latter complain that the social democratic party is taking no steps to silence the extremists in its ranks and that the national socialists do not get a square deal in shops and mines, where the trade unions are controlled by social democrats. There was a meeting of all the coalition parties on November 17, presided over by former minister Vrbenský, a Czechoslovak socialist; at this meeting the governmental parties which include the two socialist parties, the republicans (agrarians), the Slovaks and the progressives, agreed to continue their coalition in the interest of the country. But since then cable dispatches say that a real break has come between the two socialist parties. If that is true, Tuasr’s government will be reconstructed and national democrats will probably be included in the new cabinet.
This work was published in 1919 and is anonymous or pseudonymous due to unknown authorship. It is in the public domain in the United States as well as countries and areas where the copyright terms of anonymous or pseudonymous works are 105 years or less since publication.
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