San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-08-09
CZECH NATION
INSPIRATION
To NE|CHBORS
Little Republic, Without
Outside Aid, Makes
Place in Sun.
TRADE WITH RUSSIA
May Have Opportunity to
Act as Mediator for
the Soviets.
TRADE WITH RUSSIA
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Copyright. by The Sar Antonio Light:
On Board S. 5. Leviathan, Aug ..
Hope and inspiration abound in the
little republic of Czechoslovakia where
the first five years have been so well
used to construct and develop a ma
tional entity that the whole world may
derive encouragement from what has
been accomplished.
Austria has been helped from with
out. but Czechoslovakia has been help
ed from within. There is no economic
parallel, but politically this little re.
public is tending toward neutral
nediating position very much like
that of Holland or Switzerland. 1t is
true that craftsmanship and the de-
sire for preservation of friendly rela-
tions are dominant in the affairs OF
the republic. Tolerance is being gen
orally displayed toward large min
ority of Germans, Magyars and other
foreigners who live side by side with
the Czechs and have substantial rep
resentation in the national parlia-
ment.
The Czechoslovakian government
has applied itself sincerely to tax re-
vision and has kept its budget more
or less even. Already commitment
has been made to settle the war debt
to America. a circumstance which has
contributed great deal to confluence
in this republic by the outside world.
Country of Real Promise.
Judging by the achievements OF
the last few years CzechoslOvakla may
well be ranked as a forward-iooking
country of real promise. Prague is a
busy metropolis. The life of the ma
ton is moving along well defined lines
with an economical internal admin
istration and a good program of edu--
cation for the backward regions OF
Slovakia which were so long in sub
lection by the Hungarian monarchy;
Sloyakia needs railroads badly and
money will be obtained only from
American and British capitalists. OPP
Dortunities are there and the Czcchos-
l0vakian government is as receptive to
advice as any independent nation
could possibly be.
The currency for many months has
been stabilized. Some idea of what this
l,enns can be conveyed when it is re-
called that the Czech unit of money,
the crown. used to follow the German
Pars and just after the arnistica
;sartcd downward with the mark.
Now. however. the crown is 81 TO the
collar and stays at that point. This
means that as in Austria business
men in CzechoSlovakia can calculate
The costs of production and figure
f-om month to month on a sound
basis. Unfortunately. Of course, much
OF Czechoslovakia's reorganization
was accomplished when the exchange
was on q different basis so that over
head costs today are fairly high.
But the business situation is capa-
BILE of better development and the re-
yival of trade with Russia may be of
tremendous value to Czechoslovakia.
AS a matter Of fact the Czechs are
united to Russia by the common ties
of race and language. Race culture
is at the moment growing in import
ance in Prague and this Intellectual
entente is bound to give Czechoslova-
kia an opportunity to mediate some
day between Russia and the eastern
world outside. The Czechs feel that
the Russians are gradually changing
their viewpoint on the economic ques-
ton SO as TO make possible CONNER
cial intercourse with the rest OF Eu-
rope.
Tariff Is Barrier.
Czechoslovahia maintains at Mos
COW q commercial delegation and is
moving heaven and earth to get Rms
sian trade. What the Czechs have
found out, incidentally, about a pro-
tective tariff. will furnish a Salutary
example to the rest of Europe. The
tariff wall here is certain to 20 down
just as soon as the principle Of re-
ciprocity gets more firmly established
outside Prague. For the Czechs used to
manufacture 50 per cent of the goods
of the former Austro-Hungarian en-
pire and there were no tariff bar
riers then. The market of an e1uiva.
lent population of area must be sub.
stituted. That is the aim of the dip
lomacy in the many commercial treat.
les being negotiated with surrounding
countries. but the outstanding fact
is that the Czechs admit they have
rather overdone the protectionist
theory to their own disadvantage. II
would not be surprising il the mex
five years saw better understandin,
throughout Europe of a necessity fo
freer intercourse between nations tina
are SO absolutely dependent upon on,
another for trade. Fancy what Womb
happen in America II tariff walls ex
listed between the 4S states. America
economic strength is due to a weldin,
of economic resources and Europe
future depends upon a super com
bination OF unity.
Czechoslovakia is like an oasis i
the desert. Efficiency. intelligence
freedom. culture, ambition and peace
fnl aspiration are making wonder
full republic living example of wha
can he done where the sense Of moral
ity goes hand in hand with ecoromi
foresight.
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