Page:The Czechoslovak Review, vol3, 1919.djvu/174

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THE CZECHOSLOVAK REVIEW

the same with strikes, revolts and armed invasion of Magyar bands in Slovakia. Only by timely discovery of the espionage of Dr. Schwarz and the publication of certain German Austrian orders of February 28th and March 1st were the authors of the conspiracy against the Czechoslovak Republic confounded, so that the projected German-Magyar invasion into the territory of the Czechoslovak Republic had to be postponed.

The Government of the Czechoslovak Republic in bringing these facts to the notice of Allied and associated governments protests most emphatically against the unprecedented acts of the German Austrian Government (respectively the Magyar Government. ) (1) It has most flagrantly broken the armistice of November 3rd. (2) With the direction and participation of members of the government it prepared a dastardly attack against the Czechoslovak Republic, an attack which endangered and might have frustrated all efforts at consolidation of the Czechoslovak Republic as the principal support of peace in Central Europe. (3) By its hostile acts toward the Czechoslovak Republic, planned almost under the very eyes of Entente representatives in Vienna, the German Austrian Government not merely endangered the prestige of associated and Allied powers, but imperilled the vital interests of the Entente of which the Czechoslovak Republic is a part. (4) The Government of German Austrian Republic proved by its machinations that in spite of all painful experiences of the four years’ war it is led by the same principles which formed the substance of Prussian militarism: ruthless violation of written treaties and the most elementary international customs, as well as readiness treacherously to attack a neighbor, whenever a suitable opportunity seems to offer.

The government of the Czechoslovak Republic, being fully conscious that its energetic efforts for the maintenance of security and order serve not only the interests of the Czechoslovak Republic, but also the most important interests of its Allies and the cause of general peace, is compelled to declare that this work will be made impossible, unless the governments of the Allied and associated powers deduce from the foregoing fully established facts the following consequences:

(1) The government of the German Austrian Republic is to be made responsible. (2) All those guilty shall be after proper investigation punished in an exemplary manner and the result of the investigation and punishment shall be communicated to the Czechoslovak Government. (3) The German Austrian Government shall repay expenses incurred by the enforced military and police measures which the Czechoslovak Republic was obliged to take against the projected invasion and revolt. (4) Military detachments intended to invade Czechoslovak territory shall be promptly, under Allied control, disarmed and scattered. (5) Since all peace declarations of the German Austrian Republic to the effect that it would refrain in future from conspiring against the Czechoslovak Republic could receive little credence, the armed forces of the German Austrian Republic shall be reduced to the strength neccessary for mere police service. (6) All arms that such ‚a reduction‘ of military strength of German Austria will make available shall be surrendered to an inter-Allied commission with the participation of Czechoslovak delegates, and this commission shall exercise supervision over all munition works and arsenals on German Austrian territory. (7) All German Austrian railroads shall be placed under control of an Allied commission with the participation of Czechoslovak delegates. (8) With reference to imminent peril, that the government of the German Austrian Republic will continue in its plots against the integrity of the Czechoslovak Republic, the government of the Czechoslovak Republic reserves the right to take all provisional measures that will make impossible any hostile action against the territory of the Czechoslovak Republic. (9) The government of the Magyar Republic shall be called upon to institute under inter-Allied control strict investigation as to the participation of Magyar soldiers in the projected invasion, and as to furnishing of weapons and munitions for that purpose. (10) All persons found guilty after detailed investigation shall be severely punished and the result of the investigation and punishment shall be communicated to the Czechoslovak Government. (11) The government of the Magyar Republic shall be instructed to give proper satisfaction to the Czechoslovak Republic in a manner to be approved by the Czechoslovak Government. (12) The Saxon Government shall be instructed to investigate most carefully cases mentioned