CZECHO-SLOVAKIA.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 January 1923, Page 4

CZECHO-SLOVAKIA.

IDEALS OK THE NATION. NEW ZEALAND A PATTERN. WEI.I.INOTON. Jan. 12 1 When Hu- historian of the future | relegates to tlieir proper perspective I the events of the past decade, his 1 chronicle will contain no more thrill- i ing chapter than the struggle ol the , Czechs a nil Slovaks for their liberty j ami their establishment over the ruins of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, a lieu- Republic which, in the minds of their students and philosophers, has the most democratic franchise and institutions in the world. Erom the lip* of one of these yesterday your correspondent heard details at first hand of the struggle, and listened while the speaker, in glowing periods, described his country to-day as one of the happiest, if not the happiest, community in th<! world. I)r Danes, the first consular officer to represent the Ozecho-Slovakian Republic in the Southern Seas, is just about to return to Prague, its capital, after serving three years in Australia. He is watching, with interest, the sessions of the Science Congress sitting just now at Wellington, and at its close he intends to spend two or three months in New Zealand asking the people ho meets if they will still buy from the new Republic, their ally, the glassware and porcelain of Bohemia, which they formerly pm-chased from Hungary, and if they will co-operate with him in arranging means of interchanging some of the Dominions' raw material for manufactured articles from the factories of the Czechs, orso much and such of them a* will nol already interfere with the colonial predilection for British maids. "Your students will know ns better if I tell them that we comprise the historical kingdom of Bohemia with the countries of Slovakia and Russmia, which were formerly known as Cpper Hungary." he said. "We belong to one of the historic nations of Europe which never gave up its claim for independence, of which its perjurious kings, the llapshurg emperors of Austria, strove to deprive them. One thousand years of Czech or Bohemian history record a continuous struggle against Oernianisation. The homes of our nation, the famous church reformer, John I hiss. win lived in the early part of the lifleentl century, the great educationalist. Join. Amos Comonius, mid the (irsl presi-

flout of the (Vwchn-kflnvak llopillilio l)r T. G. Masarvk, a great philoso-

pher and statesman, were .-ill -piriliinl leaders in the people's light- against the German and absolutistie oppression.” 11l perl’eet English. the visitor told how his countrymen, members of tTie* "rent Slav rare, always vigorum-dy opposed the ITapshurg’s alliance with Germany, and from the begining ol the Groat war did all in tln-ir power lo weaken Austria-Hungary's military ami eennomie strength. The 'nation went through inereflible sull'crings and privations, wilfully indicted by the Austrians, and the oceupntinn armies during the war. Hundreds of thousands of con sc] ip! ed (V.eelio-Slnvaks deserted to the Allies, and formcfl the famous ('zecho-Slnvak legions, which in Krance. I.ralv. a.ml Russia, helped the Allies to overthrow the German and Austrian impact. The anabasis of the (Vor-ho 'derails through Russia and ‘ iberia to \ Indit ostoek, was one of the most thrilling episodes in the war. Iho ideals of democracy, personal liberty, and irue; Christian humanism, were always the slogan of their struggle for lihe ty. and it was these ideal* that brought them nearer and nearer to the English sneaking nations of the world. ‘‘lt may internet yon to know that New Zealand has something of a niche in CV't lin-NlnvpJ; literal lire." said Mk* speaker .diverging for the moment I’voni his account of life and doings ,'n his homeland. “A unco very popular Czech hook was Cenek I’m It's wiilewrirld travels v.liieh recorded* the im-|.-•res-ion•; of Australia and New Zealand of I’aclt, an honest, hardworking ". ai cutter, whose ndv< nturoiis .spirit earrici! him through nil live continents. H • •-i> *ni many mmitiis on the goldfields of Canterbury and Otago, and was a keen fili-'irror of Nature and mankind. Another eouutrvman ot

nllji. ■. ii iiii! iii':i IjCi and grammar school teacher. Joseph Korensky. visiter! New Zealond in If.Hif). He was lur yours renowned among his coini! rynien n.s ;i keen .student id' natural history, and a writer of interest ino l.ooks of travel. !I is account of Ids trip to the antipodes in two thick volumes, enjoyed a very well deserved popularity. Our country is half the area of yours, hut we have thirteen million people, it is democratic in spirit, mentality and constitution. In the drafting of the {‘eiistitntion. I can assure* yon from personal knowledge that the social laws of New Zealand wore very closely studied. There are two Houses of I’nrlinnK.iit, the 1 )epnt ies mid the .-t.-n----ate. Twenty-ono years is the limit for the franeliise for the Chamber of Deputies, ami twenty-six years for tin* tsenate. whose memhers must lie it lea*-t forty-five years of aye. We have proportional representation.’’ he added, saying with a twinkle in his eye, that lie would net dwell on that aspect of the Constitution, as lie understood if was .somewhat contentious in New ; Zealand. There were, lie continued, fill!) Deputies. and lot) Senators, paid £o(Ml a year. The public d* ht was JiX) mil- ; lions sterling. at the present rate of j exchange, In every 2d people one was j a. Magyar, .six were Germans, and Is! C/echo’ Slovakians. The two first named parties formed iln; opposition m Parliament in which there were several women members. Then* were four and six vear intervals between elections. ;

•‘The present Government is a Coalition of the National forces, inside about three months ago.” said Dr Danes. Dr Bones, who since the formation of the Republic three and a half years ago, was one nt the most prominent statesmen of the small

European States, was Prime Minister j in the former Cabinet. Now iie is Minister of Foreign Affairs. Mr Svel- j pa. the leader of the Country Party. , i s now Prime Minister. Mnsnrvk and . {Junes arranged during the war meet- j iugs of the exiled statesmen, or those ' now liberated nations. Very soon alter: the Peace Conference a close alliance j of C/.echo-Slovakin, Woumanin and; .1 ugo-Slavia was formed, making up the 'so-called “l.ittlc Entente.” Later! Poland became very nearly attached to j this important Conference of Nations 1 •for the preservation of pence in C< n- t tral Europe. Between the four there I are 70 millions of population and. all j are wonderfully rich in natural rc-1 sources. CV.echo-,Slovakia is the best I off industrially, but all promise to he a| verv important factor in general development. and a sound guarantee against any development of new Imperialism. German Magyar intrigues is very vigorous against the States of the “Little Entente..” The German leaders are not ussimilialing. and do not, wish to acknowledge the States created by the Peace Treaty, hut the hulk of the German population behaves very loyally knowing well that its economic development i»s more o.ssnred under the new republic than it I would he under the present reckless economic policy in Oermany. I hose in- \ •trigues are- getting some sort fil a ; hearing in portions ot the l British and American Press, but I can assure you that the complaints of the Germans! and .Magyars are not. at all justified. ’ Their minorities in these States hate been far better treated than were the Czechs, Itminmnians and Serbians under Atisfria-Mugary. I heir former' position of privileged nations makes >t very ililTicult to acknowledge their present position. Their chi:-! complaint arises mil of the decision of the republic. (111lii‘ natural you will agree, that education in the main shall follow (Vt-ho-Slovakiaii ideals. Y<t. ol the four universities, one is German, and (here are sullieienf ne.uilHU’S ol (.erman schools and colleges. “Czeclio-Slovakia has found it necessary to maintain an army of IntUHHL said the visitor. “This army has provided means of education ol youths who had had no opportunity of h ung schooled before. Our internatinal outlook is very I. and we are looking forward to a continuance of the regime ttder which we have been able already to make vast strides in civil, .industrial, political, and social progress, further than any ol us have dreamed in our lives before.”