Evening star., 1935-03-17
PROFESSIONALLY is HELD
DEPENDENT ON TREATIES
Nation Is Termed Embodiment of In
ternational Ideal Struggling i'm
World of NatiOnalism.

Europe cannot Though most of them
do not desire to) leave their provin-
cial abodes to better themselves in
the cities, and the city dwellers can
not (save as a special favor go
abroad to better their condition. In
the text books on medievalism this
was called serfdom Today it is ac-
cepted as an inevitable individual sac
riflce in the all-embracng struggle
between various national currencies
and various national interests.
Within Czechoslovakia itself there
are many noteworthy tendencies.
This nation Is the quinteSsence of
self-determinism. 1t has, for instance,
an intricate system of racial repre-
sentation. whereby an effort is made
to appease all elements 1t formally
acknowledges distinct nationalities-
Czechs. Slovaks, Germans, Magyars,
Jews, Poles, etc.-and distributes pro-
portionately its representation.
Its permanency as nation would
seem to rest upon the uniflcation Of
its elements. However, it apparently
regards those elements as incurably
alien to one another. and fosters that
alienation.
1t even carries this to the point of
providing that in every parish in
which there are 40 children speaking
a minority language. an elementary
school shall be established for them
with that language as the medium of
instruction. Nine languages are thus,
in varying degrees. in use.
The Carpathian Ruthenian Slavs
have been SO intrigued by the individ-
ualiStic possibilities in this arrange
ment that, after Is years, they are
still divided as to which language they
prefer-the Greater Russian, Little
Russian or Carpathian Ruthenian
tongue. That province is about the
zero zone for broadcasters and pho
nograph manufacturers.
Has Broad Pension System.
The government has an incredibly
broad and generous pension system,
reaching from the most modestly paid
even up to and including journalists.
The population Of about 100000
is divided, roughly, thus in percent
! age: CzechS and Slovaks, 65; Ger
mans, "a; Magyars, S; RuthenianS. g.;
Jews, 2; Poles, 05; others, 05.
In religious matters, the government
/ has reversed the general tendency of
modern times by attempting to estab-
/ lish a state church. AS result OF
this policy, approximately 100000
have changed their religious affiilia-
tionS, half of them making no new
connections, and 100000 joining the
Czechoslovakian Church. OF these a
number later broke away and joined
the Russian Orthodox Church. Some
10000 joined the ProtestantS. The
majority of the population, however.
remains Roman Catholic, although
the Reformation began here with
John HuSS.
Despite its divisional tendencies in
all directions, the republic has re-
mained steadfast to its President,
Masaryk. who, at IS years of age, is
| the only man emerging from the
World War as the real head of a
government who still retains that
position. His retirement in March or
April on account of his poor health
is generally expected here. Benes,
the foreign minister. one Of the best
known League of Nations figures, is
expected to succeed him. The Office
is particularly important because of
the fact that it has unusual powers
over the legislative department.
powers which the present incumbent
has not hesitated to use on occasion.