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“Since the beginning of the war the Czecho-Slovak Nation has resisted the common enemy by every means in its power. The Czecho-Slovaks have constituted a considerable Army fighting on three different battle-fields and attempting in Russia and Siberia, to arrest the Germanic invasion.

“In consideration of its efforts to achieve independence Great Britain regards the Czecho-Slovaks as an Allied nation, and recognises the unity of the three Czecho-Slovak Armies as an Allied and belligerent Army waging regular warfare against Austria-Hungary and Germany

“Great Britain also recognises the right of the Czecho-Slovak National Council, as the supreme organ of the national interests, and as the present trustee of the future Czecho-Slovak Government, to exercise supreme authority over this Allied and belligerent Army.”

By making the above declaration, Great Britain took a momentous step for which the Czecho-Slovaks will for ever remain grateful to her. By this declaration Great Britain has not only proclaimed the actual national sovereignty of the Czecho-Slovaks but has also definitely decided to follow a policy aiming at a radical reconstruction of Central Europe, based on the dissolution of the Habsburg Monarchy. This break-up of Austria, which to-day is as certain as the Allied victory, means the destruction of the worst tyranny in