Page:America in the Struggle for Czechoslovak Independence (1926).pdf/75

RV 71

visions of a decree of the French Government, and the first article of which decree is as follows:

“The Czechoslovaks, organizing an autonomous army and recognizing from the military point of view the superior authority of the French High Command, are waging war under their own standard against the Central Empire.”

The second article of the decree, which, recognizes the Czechoslovak National Council officially, says:

“The Czechoslovak National Army from a political point of view is under the direction of the National Council of the Czech and Slovak countries, whose main headquarters are in Paris.”

3. If, by reason of the fact that the Czechoslovak Army recognizes the superior authority of the French High Command from the military point of view, it can be said that the Czechoslovak volunteers from America enlisted for military service with the French Army, then the resolution covers their case. But there is certainly a good deal of doubt that such position could be taken, because politically the highest institution governing the army is the Czechoslovak National Council, and because the decree declares it to be an autonomous army. The mere fact that in the military sense it recognizes the superiority of the French High Command probably does not make it a part of the French Army, any more than the English Army would be a part of the army of France should a united command be accepted. Furthermore, as a general proposition it would seem that in these matters the political status is the determining one.