Glas svobode. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1902-1931, 1917-09-14

democracy are making lnelr way "a
mong the Allies.
And when the right of autonomous
decisions and elections by the nations
is becoming a real foundation and
concrete form, it shall be the duty of
every nation to know it's aims and be
prepared to submit its claims there,
where same will be determined.
And this shall be the duty also of
Slovenes, especially those living in A
merica, as they have the ability to talk
freely about their own fortune and
aims and which privilege is denied them
in their own native land.
In view of all this we find it our
duty to openly declare before our fel-
low countrymen and all men supporting
the equality of all nations, and before
the public in general what we deem-o our
national aim We feel this to be our
duty so much the more, because we rea-
lize. that a lust solution of various ma
tional problems is one of the many con
ditions for permanency of future peace
and because the unsOlved South Slavic
question was one of the most signiflc-
ant causes of present war. Solution OF
| this question is therefore logically ne
cessary to prevent its repetition in
more terrible form and manner.
The Slovenian Nation, living in Car
bniola. Istria, Lower Styria and Carin-
thia in smaller fractions in Hungary
| n+hnplnnina1 hrDnrh
of ,Tugoslavs to which belong also Croa-
tiahs (Croats) Serbs and Bulgarians.
The question whether the Jugoslavs are
| one nation or four is scientific one
and can not be solved politically. But
the fact is this:
The Jugoslavs are thru blood and
speech so closely related that they may
be taken az one nation, the difference
being only in the dialect, yet the h1sto-
rical fortune melted out to singular
branches a seperate development that
created the specific national conscience
of each part And while there does not
exist between the Jugoslavs a bigger
difference in speech as this is the case
with the German. italian and many o.
ther dialects, yet each and everyone
has its own literature, its special cul-
tmal colors, costums and traditions.
Considering all these facts we regard
the political consolidation of all South
Slavic branches that will give to each
branch the autonomy in all matters,
which are not common to all on account
of their nature, as the only successtul
solution Of Slovenian and South Slavic
question.
The realization of this idea is posi-
BILE in a political form of Federal Repu-
bic of Jugoslavia, which is herewith
designated by us as our aim.
The consolidation of Jugoslavs can
not be successfully executed in neither
one of the present existing states as
their interests are too antagonlshc ana
because such consolidation in fact
would not be anything short OF anneAa-
tion. This problem can be solved only
thru establishment of new formation,
Joining same all branches with their
voluntary consent.
1t is selfevident and clear that such
a new formation can not be anything
else but a Democratic Republic. Crea-
tion of new Monarchy in times when
the old ones are crumbling would bring
the Juooslavs in a regretful controver-
sy with the spirit of the present times,
triumphant universal Democracy and
their own necessities.
Besides such federal organization
guaranteeing each individual branch
such independence that it may not be
everlastingly in fear before anykind OF
a centralistic usurpation by or pres
sure from other branches and leaving
future consultations to the natural and
unoppresive developement, we demand
in this South Slavic Republic all qua
ranties of constitutional and democra-
tic life and especially:
| ]. Universal, equal, secret and pro-
portional ballot without regard to sex
at all political and administrative cleo
tions;
National referendum and initiative:
8. Public administration of foreign
politics;
a. Full equality of all citizens;
5. Unrestricted liberty of press and
speech;
6. Unrestricted liberty of education
and conscience;
7. Neutrality of all authorities in
class struggles;
8. Responsibility of all public offic-
ers.