The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-12-10
AMERICA Gave
WORLD HOPE
and IDEALS
SAYS CZECH
Entrance of u. S. in War In
sured Itself and World Fu-
ture Tranquility, Premier
Tells Correspondent.
SAFE IN own STRENGTH
(Ry Associated Eress)

PRAGUE, Dec. 10.-"There are peO-
pie who believe the world must come
to an end because the Austrian and
German empire no more exist, but
they know they will be happier and
especially you in America. 1t is the
first time in the history of nations
that generosity has conquered selfish
ness, and when the news came to me
within my prison wall that America
had entered the war, was unable to
believe it." Dr. Karl KramarZ, pre-
mier of Czecho-Slovikia, made this
statement to a representative of the
Associated Press today.
The interview took place in Hrad-
cany castle, the seat. of the ancient
Bohemian kings. This magnificent
pile overlooks the city of Prague from
the northwest When the correspond
ent entered the waiting room, the first
object he noticed was the bust of Pres
ident Wilson drapped with stars and
stripes.
DR.. Kramer for many years fought
for the rights of the Czcho people. He
was arrested at Prague on July l.,
1915, and following his trial at Vienna
was sentenced to death. King Alfonzo
of Spain appealed in his behalf and
the death sentence was cOmmuted to
fifteen years Imprisonment. Dr. kra-
MARI was released under Emperor
Charles amnesty proclamation OF
July IA, 1917. He was named premier
of Czecho- Slovakia on Nov. 19 last.
Germans to be Menace.
81 have always believed in the new
life of peoples" DR.. Kramarz con-
tinued, "but the great crowning truth
of this belief was the American dec
laration of war. had grown old and
cynical and could not believe the news,
but now since the war has been won
am pleased to feel that America has
not only given hopes and ideals to
millions of people but Its national con-
science has been enlivened and leading
to better things. Safe in its strength
America is facing the future tran
gully.
"Our sole ambition Is to live peace
fully and prosperously and to become
a strong friend of the entente against
the Germans. It is probable Germany
will remain a menace, since 1t Is i'm.
possible to destroy such strong ma
tionality AS for our political future.
we do not see way to tie up Austri-
ans or Hungarians. The breaking up
of the empire was a surprise, for al
though it is evident that it was held
together by force and discipline, it was
impossible to carry out revolution
while such a force lasted. But we do
not wish to again try that artificial
union which played race against race
and which kept Bohemia down by re-
fusing to grant her pleas for trans
versal railways. 1t is certain that in
future we will try to maintain COM
mercial relations with the JugO-Slavs
and the Rumanians. Regarding the
tariff it is certain we must maintain
a protective wall against Germany or
our industries will be ruined.
Business-Like Republic.
1--WE also desire to establish the
frontiers of ancient Bohemia. 1t Is
only just that we have what was once
ours. 1t was during the Thirty Years
War that the Germans ruined us, kill
ed our nobility and colonized our ter
ritory Yet our race is so strong that
we survived through the centuries.
However, we will be fairer with the
Germans than they were with us. We
will not oppress those within our from
tiers. We will give them every lib
erty, their own schools and language,
but the government must be ours.
I'VE are doing our best to set up a
business-like republic where prosper
ity may be distributed Already we
have an eight-hour day instead of
workmen to labor for
eleven hours We have abolished
titles and prepared a law to care for
the unemployed Election laws which
will give the minority a chance to
hold office and which will recognize
women. although they may not hold
the highest offices such as president.
have been prepared. The division Of
large estates. is one OF the items in
our program We also seek to de-
velop electric power for our factories
by an international plan and to build
a transversal railroad running to the
Black sea-
Need American Troops.
NJ. klafoc, minister for national de-
fense of the Czecho-Slovak republic,
spoke freely of conditions in the coun-
try. He said
There are three points which it is
necessary for the allies especially
America to understand: first. our
weak military position: second. that
we are menaced by Bolshevism from
and third. that we have food
but for two or three months. Under
the first head, both Austrians and
appear to ignore the con-
ditions of the armistice. We think
the French were too slow in occupying
Buda. Pest and also that the allies
should take possession of arsenals
and munition factories at Vienna.
Pressburg and other points Other
wise. these arms may be used against
us or the allies later
I'VE would like particularly to have
American troops with us. both for
reasons and because they
would helm to establish friendly rela-
tions for the future. They would also
show our people what a republic
means Their presence here would