achievement of that independence is in the interests of the Allies—nay more, it is a necessity for them.
The present article deals with the proposed independent Bohemian State and its administrative and constitutional organisation.
1. Area and Population.—The Bohemian State would be composed of the lands of the Crown of St. Wenceslas, namely, Bohemia, Moravia, Silesia; and to these would be added the Slovak districts of North Hungary. The frontiers of the three former would, in the main, follow the lines laid down by history and tradition, but the southern and eastern frontiers of Slovakia could not be fixed without opposition from the Magyars, in spite of their being mainly ethnographical, and including as little of the Magyar population as possible.[1] The new State would thus have about 12,000,000 inhabitants, and would extend to about 50,000 English square miles (Belgium=11,373).[2]
2. The Name.—The Note to President Wilson proposes the liberation of “the Czechs and Slovaks” (des Tchéques et des Slovaques), whereas the English translation speaks of “Czecho-Slovaks.” It is necessary to settle the question of terminology first. This is not a mere matter of philology; behind the name there lies a certain political and legal conception and an attempt at definition. It is well known that this question of terminology caused great difficulties between Austria and Hungary at the time when the Dual system was established, and similar difficulties might arise in our case.[3]
- ↑ An expert in this question, having regard to strategical necessities, proposed the following frontier: from Ungvar through Kosice (Kaschau), along the ethnographical boundaries down the river Ipoly (Eipel) to the Danube, including Pressburg; the frontier towards West and North is also given.
- ↑ There are Czech minorities in Lower Austria neighbouring on Bohemia, and in Prussian Silesia; both could easily be added to Bohemia in return for German territory. Some Bohemian politicians demand also Slav Lusatia, which once belonged to Bohemia.
- ↑ To give but a single instance: the politicians and lawyers are not agreed whether “Austria-Hungary” designates two States (Austria and Hungary), or whether there are three States involved—Austria, Hungary, and, as the third State, the Empire comprising the two States. The common army was “Imperial-Royal” (K.K.), but some years ago the Magyars succeeded in having this changed to “Imperial and Royal” (K. und K.), the word “and” having an important legal and political meaning.
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