The Czechoslovak Review/Volume 2/The note that broke Austria's back

THE NOTE THAT BROKE AUSTRIA’S BACK.

The President deems it his duty to say to the Austro-Hungarian Government that he cannot entertain the present suggestions of that Government because of certain events of utmost importance which, occuring since the delivery of his address of the 8th of January last, have necessarily altered the attitude and responsibility of the Government of the United States. Among the fourteen terms of peace which the President formulated at that time occurred the following:

X. The peoples of Austro Hungary, whose place among the nations we wish to see safeguarded and assured, should be accorded the freest opportunity of autonomous development.

Since that sentence was written and uttered to the Congress of the United States the Government of the United States has recognized that a state of belligerency exists between the Czechoslovaks and the German and Austro-Hungarian Empires and that the Czechoslovak national council is a de facto belligerent government clothed with proper authority to direct the military and political affairs of the Czechoslovaks.

It has also recognized in the fullest manner the justice of the nationalistic aspirations of the Jugo Slavs for freedom.

The President is, therefore, no longer at liberty to accept the mere ‘autonomy’ of these peoples as a basis of peace, but is obliged to insist that they, and not he, shall be the judges of what action on the part of the Austro Hungarian government will satisfy their aspirations and their conception of their rights and destiny as members of the family of nations.