The Czechoslovak Review/Volume 1/League of small nationalities
LEAGUE OF SMALL NATIONALITIES.
Organizations are constantly springing up in the United States with high sounding names and very praiseworthy objects. But experience and Secretary Lansing’s revelations have shown that such Leagues and Alliances in many cases serve consciously or unconsciously the German cause.
Bohemians have from the very beginning of the war set their hopes of liberation partly on their own efforts and sacrifices, partly on the sympathies of the Allies, of whom the United States is now one. Guided by such considerations, Charles Pergler, vice-president of the Bohemian National Alliance, and director-general of the Slav Press Bureau in New York, refused to take part in the coming Congress of the League of Small and Subject Nationalities. The matter is of sufficient importance to call for the publication of his letter. Mr. Pergler says:
New York papers have lately published an announcement of the First Congress of the League of Small and Subject Nationalities, reporting that I shall address the Congress on behalf of the Czechoslovaks. I am sorry this has occurred. The Czechoslovaks cannot participate in this Congress for the following reasons:
1.—The aims of the League and of the Congress do not appear to be formulated with a sufficient clearness. In these times nothing is more necessary than definiteness and clearness.
2.—It is evident that elements will take part in whose participation we see not so much an accentuation of the principles of nationality as a symptom of an endeavor to cause disintegration of States whose unity and power can substantially accelerate the Allied victory, and thereby also the victory and real liberation of nations that have a moral right to such liberation.
3.—The Czechoslovaks in America will not do anything that might even remotely embarrass the United States Government.
Since I have already been announced as a speaker I trust you will make this letter a part of your record so as to show the reasons for my decision.
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1929.
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