Page:TheNewEuropeV2.djvu/83



the moment when the Allies have solemnly committed themselves to the liberation of the Czecho-Slovaks as one of their war aims, it is worth recalling the words of the proclamation issued by the Prussian High Command on 8 July 1866, the day of their entry into Prague during the Seven Weeks’ War against Austria. It will be seen from this document that the Germans were ready enough to recognise Bohemia’s nght to national independence when it suited their own ends to do so:—

the fifteen days are up which have been allowed for the transport of army and artillery to the Peloponnesus, it cannot be taken as certain that King Constantine and his Government mean to carry out our terms. Of the two hypotheses, however, this, at the moment, is the most probable, and it is time for us to consider in what way its fulfilment is likely to affect our attitude to the two Governments that divide Greece between them.

The natural man—at least the natural man of Allied diplomacy—will approach such a discussion with boredom, if not with irritation. For six weeks Greece has been occupying