Page:The heart of Europe; an address delivered by Charles Pergler in Washington, December 11, 1916, at a conference of oppressed or dependent nationalities (IA heartofeuropeadd00pergrich).pdf/40

by the free will of the representatives of the Bohemian State, and they undertook by solemn oaths and pledges to protect and safeguard the independence of this state. The violation of such pledges on their part, and the deprivation of the Czechs of their independence by force, does not do away with their legal rights, so that the Czech claim has the strongest possible legal sanction. The fact that the Czechs at one time had a strong and powerful state, well organized, as states were organized then, is also a sufficient proof of inherent political capacity. The Bohemian question has become an international problem par excellence. It was Bismarck who maintained that the power that rules Bohemia rules Europe. Such a problem cannot be permitted to remain unsolved. The only possible solution which will guarantee permanent peace, and which will also be fair to the nationalities concerned, is the reconstruction of a Bohemian-Slovak State. Victor Hugo had the theft of Alsace-Lorraine in mind when he said: “Another war, alas! Yes, it is necessary.” The Czechs firmly believe that at the conclusion of this war the Bohemian question will be solved, and that they will regain their independence; but if the problem is not definitely disposed of, and disposed of right, we shall have to paraphrase Victor Hugo’s exclamation: “Another war, alas! Yes, it is unavoidable.”