Page:The Bohemian Review, vol2, 1918.djvu/106

 hearty welcome. To thank also Mr. Staněk and Mr. Jirásek for their words of greeting.

In the first place let me declare that  was said in the previous declarations. We came to you to gain fresh strength from your solidarity for our struggle.

We Croats, Serbs and Slovenes have the same aims as you Czechs; we are faced by the same enemy who uses the same weap ons against us and whom we must therefore fight also by joint force. I recall the great apostle of Italian liberty Mazzini who in 1862 addressed the Italian potentates as follows: “If you do not want or are not able to liberate and unite Italy, we will liberate and unite her without and against you.” . (A storm of approval, the delegates are rising from their seats.) We came to this manifestation fully conscious that a first-rate political issue was at stake, and that it is our duty to give you as our true brothers a sincere and hearty handshake.  We accept the challenge and would accept it, if it were addressed to you only.

I agree entirely with Mr. Staněk’s criticism of Czernin. It was the height of intellectual impotence to declare the majority of the population as traitors before the world. Towards such official declaration 

The Jugoslav question must not be solved partially as the question of Bosnia, Dalmatia, etc. In the same way the right of national self-determination must not be applied to Czechs and Slovenes separately, etc. On the contrary, it must be applied to all oppressed nations simultaneously and it must especially be realized for both the Czechoslovak and the Jugoslav nations si multaneously and firmly unite them indissolubly forever.” (Storm of approval).

After Dr. Pavelič, Dr. Korošec, president of the Jugoslav Club, declared:

“The young and progressive nation of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs always looked with admiration upon the brotherly Czech nation from whom we learned in the sphere of education and political economy. In politics also we often went together, and fate united us entirely, when we were oppressed as never before, when we were persecuted, imprisoned and murdered, and when our national life was in danger. We suffered together but now we also work together for the liberty of our people, of our nation. . Both of us came to the conclusion that with the horrors of this war the moment has come for us in which we must show the world that we are worthy of liberty for which our ancestors have been in vain struggling. We felt that it was im possible that our tyrants should continue to quench our national life. We know that it was impossible for us not to obtain such liberty as would make it impossible for our enemies to exploit us economically and politically.

We suffer together, but we also struggle together for deliverance from a foreign yoke. Our work is difficult and full of obstacles. The Czech nation has just taken a solemn oath that it will never cease in this struggle whatever may happen.  We want to prove that we are your faithful brothers. We suffered together, we struggle .

(The remaining part suppressed by censor.)

After Korošec’s speech, the choir sang “Ljepa naše Domovina” whereupon Dr. Kramář amid general enthusiasm addressed the Jugoslavs as follows:

“Dear Brother Croats, Serbs and Slovenes: I was charged to thank you in the name of the Czechoslovak nation for coming to shake us by the hand at a moment when the representative of the Government spoke in pretended defence of our nation against its wicked leaders, and when the representatives of our nation reply to him by swearing that they will hold on to the end in their struggle for the independence of our nation. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for having come to us to show the whole world that we are fighting and suffering together, and that we shall also win together. We promise you fidelity for fidelity!”

After him deputy Klofáč spoke and thanked the Czech women and mothers for