The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1920-03-11

HlNWlggH OF Bohemia may be traced, i'm
presses one with the apparent conviction that
the republic cannot long economically exist
unless it depends and draws on the resources
of her neighboring peoples, the peoples who
almost without exception, are antagonistic to
the ambitions and aspirations of the Czecho-
Slovaks.
Hungary, Austria and Germany border
on the south, west and partly on the north
Poland forms the balance of the northern
boundary, while Bukovina and Transylvania
adjoin on the east. The inhabitants of the
Magyar and German states are bitter op-
ponents of the peoples of Bohemia. What
attitude the Poles will assume is difficult, at
present, to predict.
Therefore, the only possible friendly
neighbors are in the east, the Ruthenians of
Bukovina and the Roumanians of Transyl-
vania, writes E. F. Pratner in the New York
Herald. But even their policy is unsettled.
The Mid-European union, so auspiciously
and so recently organized in historic Inde-
pendence hall, Philadelphia, is in danger of
disintegration due to the differences arising
among the delegates of the numerous peoples
represented. The possibilities are that what
seem to be insurmountable obstacles will be
satisfactorily adjusted, and the Czecho-Slo-
vaks will enjoy at least the friendship of
these peoples.
Bohemia is an economically indepen-
dent country. This sounds as rather bold
assertion in the face of the enumerated hand
leaps. She is not dependent, economically,
on her neighbors, but they, in turn, must
draw upon the Bohemian resources for their
many shortcomings in agriculture and indus
If we give consideration to the impress
sion made on the iron chancellor of Ger
many, Bismark, the economic position of Bo-
hemia may be more readily appreciated, for
he once stated that whoever is "the master
of Bohemia is the master of Europe" To-
day these words are not accepted or even put
forth as truisms, but they have tendency to
induce more comprehensive estimate of Bo-
hemia's commanding position in the CONNER
cial world.
The Czecho- Slovaks, or the other Slavs
of Europe, for that matter, have not sought
and have no intention of seeking in the. fu-
ture the mastery of the European continent.
Their only desire is that they be permitted
to freely develop along economic and cultur-
al lines in their own lands as free peoples liv-
ing under independent governments.
During all the ages the commercial
routes from the west and east, as well as
from the north and south of Europe led
through Bohemia. Her position has not been
altered in the slightest even in this day. The
Berlin-Bagdad railroad runs through Bohe-
mia. Two of its most important stations are
in Prague and Brno. With Bohemia free
state the German "super dream" instantly
vanishes, for the Czecho-Slovaks control
within their territory this vital line of COM
munication between Germany and the Bal
kan peninsula.
1t is an elementary axiom of economics
that the prime factor necessary to the success
full existence of country is its capacity to
produce a suficiency from the soil to proper
ly sustain its people. Bohemia fufflls this
prerequisite; nay, it does more, it reaps such
bumper crops that her ,neighbors are depen-
dent on her to supplement their meager and
insufficient harvests.
More than SO per cent of the total area
of the country is devoted to agricultural pur-
suits. The well-kept meadows and the in
tensively cultivated fields, particularly those
known as the Garden of Bohemia, remind
one in beauty and productiveness, of the Mo
hawk valley of the empire state. The yield
of grains is so abundant that it meets the
domestic requirements and allows for large
quantities to be exported. AS. a matter of
fact, the other countries of the former Aus
tro-Hungarian empire invariably depended
upon the Bohemian surplus cereals to sup
plement their scanty crops, which at all times
are far short of satisfying the peoples needs.