Page:Edvard Beneš – Bohemia's case for independence.pdf/124

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.
110
BOHEMIA'S CASE FOR INDEPENDENCE

this dynasty. A State which has played such a part in history must disappear from the map of Europe!

Finally, we wish to make it clearly understood that Austria, to save her traditions and ancient character cannot do otherwise than give herself up to Prussia. A Pan-German Empire is the final end of the evolution of the Central European situation. There is, therefore, no means but to destroy Austria-Hungary, to arrest the Drang nach Osten of Prussia, and to break for ever the German hegemony in Europe. Moreover, an impassable barrier must he established against the Prussians to reduce them to their proper strength, so that they may easily be held in check if they should ever recommence their sinister schemes of to-day. This barrier—as we have already mentioned—may easily be realised. An independent Bohemia, supported in the north by a united and autonomous Poland, and in the south by the Yugo-Slav Empire, would form this impassable Slav barrier. The destruction of Austria which would follow, the reduction of the Magyars to their proper territory, comprising 8,000,000 inhabitants of exclusively Magyar nationality, and their separation from the Germans by Slav territories, would for ever render impossible a recurrence of the present world catastrophe.

This is what we would impress on the Powers of