Prepared by Clarence L. Speed, Union League Club, Chicago. MAP SHOWING RACIAL LINES ON WHICH NEW STATE FRONTIERS WERE BEING ARRANGED IN 1918. Thanks from American Bohemians. The epochmaking act of the American government recognizing Czecho-Slovaks as allies and cobelligerents, worthy of independence and the company of free nations, has moved us most profoundly, and we wish to pour our hearts to you and to the American government in gratitude, for by that act our brothers were liberated from centuries long bondage, from indescribable suffering imposed by the awful Austrian and Magyar tyranny, and have instilled in them new hopes. We who have chosen this land for our country will be inspired by this act to greater achievemcnts. We shall be filled with new strength to fulfill the solemn vows given America. The champions of the oppressed, we shall feel new joy in performing our duties toward her, new valor and new motive power; we see today the glorious banner of our great free republic reaching over the oceans and beaming upon the new flowers of liberty where there was but dark desert of despair. Glory be to our own America, the champion of freedom. Glory be to America, the defender of democracy and humanity. We love her passionately and shall strive to be worthy of her. Our eternal gratitude is hers. "For the Czecho-Slovak people of America. "BOHEMIAN NATIONAL ALLIANCE." Revolt in Bohemia. On Oct. 18, 1918, it was announced that the Czechs had made themselves masters of Prague, had hoisted the Czech flag and placed Czech money in circulation. The Austrian authorities at this time were powerless to make any effective opposition and the revolt was completely successful. CZECHO-SLOVAK DECLARATION OF INDE- The following declaration was issued by the the Slovak nation by its provisional government: Europe may easily federate should they find it necessary. "We make this declaration on the basis of our historic and natural right. We have been an independent state since the seventh century, and in 1526, as an independent state, consisting of Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia, we joined with Austria and Hungary in a deWe fensive union against the Turkish danger. have never voluntarily surrendered our right as an independent state in this confederation. The Hapsburgs broke their compact with our nation by illegally transgressing our rights and violating the constitution of our state, which they had pledged themselves to uphold. and we therefore refuse longer to remain a part of Austria-Hungary in any form. "We claim the right of Bohemia to be reunited with her Slovak brethren of Slovakia, once part of our national state, later torn from our national body, and fifty years ago incorporated in the Hungarian state of Magyars, who, by their unspeakable violence and ruthless oppression of their subject races, have lost all moral and human right to rule anybody but themselves. the The world knows the history of our struggle against the Hapsburg oppression. intensified and systematized by the Austro-Hungarian dualistic compromise of 1867. This dualism is only a shameless organization of brute force and exploitation of the majority by the minority; it is a political conspiracy of the Germans and Magyars against our own as well as the other Slav and the Latin nations of the monarchy. The world knows the justice of our claims, which the Hapsburgs them. selves dared not deny. Francis Joseph, in the most solemn manner. repeatedly recognized the sovereign rights of our nation. "The Germans and Magyars opposed this recognition, and Austria-Hungary, bowing before the pan-Germans, became a colony of Germany, and, as her vanguard to the east, provoked the last Balkan conflict, as well as the present world war, which was begun by the Hapsburgs alone without the consent of the representatives of the people. the "We cannot and will not continue to live under the direct or indirect rule of the violators of Belgium, France and Serbia. would-be murderers of Russia and Roumania, the murderers of tens of thousands of civilians and soldiers of our blood, and the accomplices in numberless unspeakable crimes committed in this war against humanity by the two degenerate and irresponsible dynasties, "We will not remain a part of a state which has no justification for existence, and which. refusing to accept the fundamental principles of modern world organizations, remains only an artificial and immoral political structure. hindering every movement toward democratic and social progress, "The Hapsburg dynasty. weighed down by perpetual menace to the peace of the world. a huge inheritance of error and crime, is a and we deem it our duty toward humanity and civilization to aid in bringing about its downfall and destruction. "We reject the sacrilegious assertion that the power of the Hapsburg and Hohenzollern dynasties is of divine origin; we refuse to recognize the divine rights of kings. Our nation elected the Hapsburgs to the throne of Bohemia of its own free will, and by the same right deposes them. made in We hereby declare the Hapsburg dynasty unworthy of leading our nation and deny all of its claims to rule in the Czecho-Slovak land, which we here and now declare shall henceforth be a free and independent people and nation. a We do this because of our belief that no people should be forced to live under Sovereignty they do not recognize, and be cause of our knowledge and firm conviction that our nation cannot freely develop in a Hapsburg mock federation. which is only a new form of the denationalizing oppression under which we have suffered for the last 300 years. We consider freedom to be the first prerequisite for federalization, and believe that the free nations of central and eastern "We accept and shall adhere to the ideals of modern democracy, as they have been the ideals of our nation for centuries. We accept the American principles as laid down by President Wilson-the principles of liberated. mankind. of the actual equality of nations and of governments deriving all their just power from the consent of the governed. We. the nation of Comenius, cannot but accept these principles expressed in the American declaration of independence, the principles of Lincoln and of the declaration of the rights of man and of the citizen. For these principles our nation shed its blood in the memorable Hussite wars, 500 years ago; for these same allies. principles, beside her our nation shedding its blood to-day in Russia, Italy and France. a 18 re "We shall outline only the main principles of the constitution of the Czecho-Slovak nation; the final decision as to the constitution itself falls to the legally chosen representatives of the liberated and united people. "The Czecho-Slovak state shall be public. In constant endeavor for progress it will guarantee complete freedom of conscience, religion and science, literature and art, speech, the press and the right of assembly and petition The church shall be separated from the state. "Our democracy shall rest on universal suffrage; women shall be placed on an equal footing with men, politically, socially and culturally. The rights of the minority shall be safeguarded by proportional representation; national minorities shall enjoy equal rights. The government shall be parliamentary in form and shall recognize the principles of initiative and referendum. The standing army will be replaced by militia. The Czecho-Slovak nation will carry out far reaching social and economic reforms; the large estates will be redeemed for home colonization; patents of nobility will be abolished. Our nation will assume its part of the Austro-Hungarian prewar public debt; the debts for this war we leave to those who incurred them. "In its foreign policy the Czecho-Slovak nation will accept its full share of responsibility in the reorganization of eastern Europe. It accepts fully the democratic and social principle of nationality, and subscribes to the doctrine that all covenants and treaties shall be entered into openly and frankly, without secret diplomacy. "Cur constitution shall provide an efficient, rational and just government, which will exclude all special privileges and prohibit class legislation. гасу. Democracy has defeated theocratic autocMilitarism is overcome: democracy is victorious: on the basis of democracy mankind will be reorganized. The forces of darkness have served the victory of light; the longed for, age of humanity is dawning. We believe in democracy; we believe in liberty and liberty evermore. "Given in Paris on the 18th day of October, 1918. "PROF. THOMAS G. MASARYK. "Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. "GEN. DR. MILAN R. STEFANIK, "Minister of National Defense. "DR. EDWARD BENES. "Minister of Foreign Affairs and of Interior." MID-EUROPEAN UNION. A convention representing 50.000.000 perSons under Germanic domination in midEurope was held in Independence hall, Philadelphia, Pa., Oct. 23-26 to take steps looking to the organization of a mid-European union of small nations and also to draft a declaration of the common aims of such a democratic union. The union was organized with Dr. Masaryk as president and on Oct. 26 a new declaration of independence was read. To fittingly proclaim that the eighteen Slav states of the German emperor's once subservient Mitteleuropa had united under a banner of their own and shaken off the yoke of domination, the mid-European union had a new liberty bell cast, as well as a new national flag, which was unfurled alongside the stars and stripes flying on the roof of Independence hall. posed of Czecho-Slovaks, Ukrainians, Lithuanians and Jugo Slavs, "Liberty for all the world and all the inhabitants thereof." is prominently inscribed on the new liberty bell, which is a replica of the bell which rang out America's declaration 142 years ago. The new declaration of independence was signed on the same table where Hancock, Adams, Jefferson, Franklin and those others of the patriot fathers signed the pact that created this republic. Those present watched with interest each of the representatives. as his name was called. step to the table and put down his name. Ittarmar Ben Avi represented the Jews of Palestine, Mireslaw Sichinsky the Ukrainians, Capt. Vasilo Stosia the Roumanians. Text of Declaration. Following is the text of the new declaration of independence: In convention assembled at Independence hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America, on Oct. 26, 1918, we, representing together more than 50.000.000 people constituting a chain of nations lying between the Baltic, the Adriatic and the Black seas, comprising Czecho-Slovaks, Poles, Jugo Slavs, Ukrainians. Uro-Russians, Lithuanians, Roumanians, Italian Irredentists, Unredeemed Greeks, Albanians and Zionists, wholly or partly subject to alien dominion, deeply appreciating the aid and assistance given our peoples by the government and people of America and of the entente allies. on behalf of ourselves, and our brethren at home do hereby solemnly declare that we place all our peoples and resources at the disposal of our alues for use against our common enemy; and, in order that the whole world may know what we deem are the essential and fundamental doctrines which shall be embodied in the constitutions hereafter pendent nations, as well as the purposes which adopted by the peoples of our respective indeshall govern our common and united action, we accept and subscribe to the following as basic principles for all free peoples: 1. That all governments derive their just power from the consent of the governed. pecple to organize their own government on 2. That it is the inalienable right of every believe will best promote their welfare, safety such principles and in such form as and happiness. they the ideals of any state shall be allowed to 3. That the free and natural development of Paisue their normal and unhindered course. unless such course harms or threatens the common interest of all. 4. That there should be no secret diplomacy, and all proposed treaties and agreements between nations should be made public prior to their adoption and ratification. 5. That we believe kindred ideals and purposes, should co-ordinate our peoples, having their efforts to insure the liberty of their individual nations for the furtherance of their tributes to the peace and welfare of the world, common welfare, provided such a union con 6. That there should be formed a league of binding agreement for genuine and practical the nations of the world in a common and co-operation to secure justice and therefore peace among nations. In the course of our history we have been subject to and victims of aggressive and selfish nations and autocratic dynasties and held in subjection by force of arms. We have suffered destruction of our cities. violation of our homes and lands, and we have maintained our ideals only by stealth, in spite of the tyranny of our oppressors. We have been deprived of proper representa tion and fair trial. We have been denied the right of free speech and the right freely to assemble and petition for the redress of our grievances. We have been denied free and As the new bell pealed forth its chimes Prof. friendly intercourse with our sister states, and Masaryk read the declaration from the steps our men have been impressed in war against of America's birthplace of freedom, Pre- their brothers and friends of kindred races. viously the document had been signed by the The signers of this declaration and repre representatives of the new federation, com-sentatives of other independent peoples who may subscribe their names hereto do hereby pledge, on behalf of their respective nations. that they will unitedly strive to the end that these wrongs shall be righted, that the suiferings of the world war shall not have been in vain and that the principles here set forth shall be incorporated in the organic laws of whatever governments our respective peoples may herealter establish. Czecho-Slovak Army in Russia. Much of the credit for the formation of the new republic is due the intrepid Czecho-Slovak army in Russia, the story of whose march through the former empire to the Pacific coast in the face of privations and innumerable enemies is already an epic. After the signing of the Brest-Litovsk treaty a Czecho-Slovak army of approximately 50,000 men which had been fighting against Austria-Hungary and Germany was in the vicinity of Kiev in Ukrainia. That country made peace with the Germans and the Czecho-Slovaks found themselves surrounded by enemies on all sides, Nevertheless, they spurned an offer of amnesty from Emperor Charles and started on their famous march to the east. They fought many battles against German and bolshevik forces, defeating them all, and steadily forced their way onward until they reached their goal and joined the allied forces in western Siberia. Population and Area. The Czechs are chiefly inhabitants of Bo hemia, Moravia and Austrian Silesia, while the Slovaks live in the upper part of Hungary, The peoples are practically of the same race and speak the same language. There has never been any serious political differences between them. ex "We hope to include in the new nation." said Prof. Masaryk before leaving the United States to go to his capital in Prague, Bohemia, Moravia, Silesia and their historical boundaries. To these will be added Slovakiathat is, the northern part of Hungary, tending as far south as Presburg and to the east as far as Ungvar. This territory is about four times greater than that of Belgium. The population of the new nation will be 12.000,000. Of these 10.000.000 are Bohemians and Slovaks. The remainder consists of minorities. Our constitution will provide for a president and two legislative chambers, a senate and a house of representatives, similar to yours. There will be a very elaborate sys tem of local self-government, as a means of insuring a democracy that is not one in form alone. We shall endeavor to work out the problem of local self-government so as to render the justice of leaving the affairs of minorities in their own hands as far as possible. In reaffirming the historical boundary lines of Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia there will of necessity be included some Germans among the population, notably in the west and north. but we shall confer on communities of this kind the same local self-government that obtains in other parts of the country. There will be universal suffrage. We have confidence in this and a high degree of local self-government because all our people are educated." The area of the new republic as outlined by Prof. Masaryk is approximately 48.000 square miles. JUGO SLAV NATION. When it became apparent that the AustroHungarian empire as a result of the war would practically cease to exist, the various nationalities immediately set about forming independent states. Emperor Charles offered federalization, but this plan was rejected as being merely an attempt to deceive President Wilson. The Jugo or southern Slavs were among those who wanted independence, and they formed a national council in Agram, the capital of Croatia and Slavonia, to work with this end in view. Their aspirations were formally recognized by Italy on Sept. 28. 1918. On Oct. 23 the central executive com mittee elected on Oct. 5 by the national council of Slovenes. Croatians and Serbians at Agram issued a statement that the committee would at once assume the political direction of those nationalities and declaring for the creation of a sovereign state on a democratic basis. The following principles were enunciated by the committee: 1. To bring about a reunion of all the Slovenes, Croatians and Serbians on a racial basis without reference to their present political frontiers. 2. To create a sovereign state on a democratic basis. 3. To see that the nationalities represented by the council had a delegate at the peace conference. The committee rejected the plan contained in the imperial manifesto for the settlement of nationalistic problems in Austria. It guaranteed the free development of all national majorities which may form a part of the state organized by it. Neighboring states would be assured free access to the sea, providing that they make no attempts on the constitutional rights of the state and on its territorial integrity. The committee finally urged concord among all the nationalities in order to create a great national state. On Oct. 31 the Croatian parliament at Agram had voted for a total separation of Croatia, Slavonia and Dalmatia from Hungary. Crown Prince Alexander of Serbia was appointed national council at Agram. regent of the Jugo Slav state Nov. 26 by the A state council. comprising all the members of the Agram council, fifty delegates from Serbia and five from Montenegro, was summoned to meet at Serajevo. This council was to appoint a cabinet for the Jugo Slav state. POLAND. The rehabilitation of Poland along the lines existing when the country was divided between Prussia. Austria and Russia in 1772 was in progress in November and December, 1918. but its exact form of government had not been determined when this edition of the Almanac and Year-Book went to press. On Nov. 9 it was announced that a Polish republic had been formed at Cracow under the presidency of Deputy Daszynski, while on Nov. 15 advices were received from Warsaw that Gen. Joseph Pilsudski of the Polish legion had been intrusted by the Polish regency council with the formation of a national government and with the control of all the troops. On Nov. 23 he had progressed so far as to appoint a dreas Moraczewski, a socialist leader, as precabinet with himself as minister of war: Anmier and Leon Wasilewski as minister of foreign affairs. Three portfolios had been reserved for Prussian Poland. Agitation for an independent Poland was conducted in the United States by a Polish national committee in Washington, of which Roman Dmowski was president, and by various other committees. Prominent in this movement and also in relief measures affecting Poland were such men as Ignace Paderewski, the famous pianist, and John F. Smulski, the Chicago banker. Recognized by the United States. On Nov. 2 the American secretary of state. Robert Lansing, addressed the following letter to President Dmowski: "Sir: I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letters of Oct. 18 and Oct. 25 requesting the government of the United States to associate itself with the governments of France and Great Britain by recognizing the Polish army. under the supreme political authority of the Polish national committee, as autonomous, allied and cobelligerent. "In reply I beg to inform you that the gov ernment of the United States has not been unmindful of the zeal and tenacity with which the Polish national committee has prosecuted the task of marshaling its fellow countrymen in a supreme military effort to free Poland from its present oppressors. "This government's position with respect to the Polish cause and the Polish people could hardly be more clearly defined than was outlined by the president in his address before the congress of Jan. 8, 1918. Therefore, feeling as it does a deep sympathy for the Polish people and viewing with gratification the progress of the Polish cause, this government experiences a feeling of genuine satisfaction in being able to comply with your request by recognizing the Polish army, under the supreme political authority of the Polish national committee, as autonomous and cobelligerent. I am, sir, your obedient servant, "ROBERT LANSING." Ignace Paderewski, armed with power to act on behalf of various Polish committees in the United States. sailed from New York Nov. 23, 1918, for Europe to further, the interests of his compatriots in the pending political developments. "Poland will be free and so will her inhabitants,' Mr. Paderewski said in a statement before departing. The democratic constitution of Poland will assure liberty and equity to every citizen without distinction as to race, religion or political opinion." In the course of November Polish troops took possession of Posen in Germany, Galicia and other places. They took possession of the royal palaces in Warsaw, disarmed the German police and demobilized the German troops. Area and Population. ple would be represented by the reichsrath deputies constituted as a provisional national assembly. In 1910, on the basis of language, there were 9,950,266 Germans out of a total population of 28,324,940 in Austria. UKRAINIA. Ukrainia is one of the more important states carved out of what was once the RusUkrainian People's Republic" Nov, 21, 1917. siau empire. It was proclaimed as the and since then has had a troubled existence, with uprisings, riots and several changes of government. It made peace with Germany on its own account, but the Germans by their exactions and extortions aroused the resentment of the farming classes, who resisted the forcible collection of grain and other foodstufts from them. Because of the defeat of the central powers and the denouncing of the Brest-Litovsk treaties by the allies the status of Ukrainia will probably have to be decided at the peace conference. The state has an estimated area of 216,400 square miles and a porulation of about 30,000,000. Kiev is the capital. UKRAINE TREATY WITH GERMANY. Following are the provisions of the treaty of peace signed at Brest-Litovsk Feb. 9, 1918, by representatives of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey on the one hand and of the Ukrainian People's Republic on the other: The preamble states that the Ukrainian people, having in course of the present world war declared itself to be independent and expressed a wish to restore peace between itself and the powers at war, desires to take the first step toward a lasting world's peace, honorable to all parties, which shall not only put an end to the horrors of war but also lead to the It was assumed that the new Poland would obtain an outlet to the Baltic sea at Danzig. by way of the Vistula. The limits of the state will probably be decided at the peace conference. Its area and population cannot at this time (Dec. 2, 1918) be given with any degree of accuracy. In 1914 Russian Poland had an area of 43.804 square miles and a Poland Austrian population of 12,247.600; (Galicia), 30.321 square miles and a popula-restoration of friendly relations of the people in the political, legal, economic and intellectual tion of 8.025.675 (in 1910) and Prussian realm.' Poland (Posen) an area of 11.184 square miles and a population of 2,099.831 (1910); total area, 85,309 square miles; total population, 22,373,106. HUNGARIAN PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC. According to advices received from Buda pest, the "Hungarian People's Republic" was proclaimed Nov, 16, 1918, by the Hungarian national council and the two chambers of parliament, with Count Michael Karolyi as president. It was planned to proclaim universal, secret and equal suffrage for men and women. Hungary before the middle of October had declared herself independent of Austria. Archduke Joseph of Austria and his son. Archduke Joseph Franz, took an oath to "submit unconditionally to the orders of the national council of Hungary and to support it in all its decrees." It was anticipated early in December, 1918. that the future of the Hungarian state would depend largely upon the decisions taken at the peace conference. Hungary in 1910 had an area of 125.609 square miles and a population of 20,886,487. GERMAN AUSTRIA. On Oct. 23. 1918. the German-Austrian deputies in the Austrian reichsrath formed an assembly for the purpose of conducting the affairs of the Germanic people in Austria and issued a declaration announcing the creation of the "German State of Austria." Karl Seitz, leader of the German socialists in Austria, was elected president of the new assembly. The deputies announced their desire to bring about the autonomy of the Germans in Austria and to establish relations with other nations. The assembly drew up a resolution respecting the form of government of the territory Occupied by Germans. The "German State of Austria." it was said. would seek access to the Adriatic sea, in agreement with other nations. Pending the establishment of a constitution, according to this program. the peo The names of all of the plenipotentiaries engaged in the negotiations are then set forth and they are declared to have reached an agreement on the following points: "Article I. Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey on the one hand and the Ukrainian People's Republic on the other declare that the state of war between them is at an end. The contracting parties are resolved henceforth to live in peace and friendship with one another. "Art. II. Between Austria-Hungary on the one hand and the Ukrainian People's Republic on the other hand as far as these two powers border one another, those frontiers will exist which existed before the outbreak of the present war between the Austro-Hungarian monarchy and Russia. Farther north the frontier of the republic beginning at Tarnegrad will in general follow the line of Bilgerey to Sroezeberzszyn, Krasnostau. Pugaszce, Radzyn, Meshiretschei, Sarnaki, Selnik, Wysekelitowsk, Kamietslitowsk, Prushany and to Wydozowskyesee. This will be fixed in detail by a fixed commission according to ethnographical conditions and with a regard to the desires of the population. Should the Ukrainian People's Republic have common frontiers with another of the powers of the quadruple alliance special agreements will be made thereon. "Art. III. The evacuation of occupied territories will begin immediately after the rati fication of the present treaty. The manner of carrying out the evacuation and transfer of the evacuated territories will be determined by the plenipotentiaries of the interested parties. "Art. IV. The diplomatic and consular relations between the contracting parties will be entered upon immediately after the ratification of the peace treaty. The widest possible admittance of the respective parties to consuls is to be reserved for a special agreement. "Art. V. The contracting parties mutually renounce the reimbursement of their war costs -that is to say, the state expenditure for car. |