soldiers serving with the Italians, had as yet returned home, is at this time not known. In any case the government of Prague disposes of strong and well organized forces with the best morale in the world and is proceeding to occupy Slovakia. It may be that will result in a brief war with Karolyi’s forces, although no doubt the French garrison at Budapest will prevent it. The Czechoslovaks have no desire to make war on the Magyars, though the injuries they have suffered at their hands cry to heaven for vengeance. But they will undoubtedly take over all the territory which by the will of the people and the solemn decision of the Allies belongs to the new state.
On October 23, before Austrian rule was formally expelled from Bohemia, a delegation of the Czechoslovak National Committee proceeded from Prague to Switzerland to meet for the first time in four years the leaders of the movement abroad who had brought the cause of liberty to victory. The committee, the supreme organ of the nation, was represented by Dr. Karel Kramář, its president, and Václav Klofáč, its vice-president. The Czech Deputies’ Club was represented by Frant. Staněk, president, Gustav Haberman and Anton Kalina, vice-presidents, and Dr. Přemysl Šlámal. With them went also a representative of the Czech financial interests, banker Jar. Preiss. They were met by Dr. Edward Beneš, foreign minister of the Czechoslovak government, recognized by the Allies; he was accompanied by two Slovak co-workers in the cause of independence. Dr. Ivan Markovič, editor of the “Czechoslovak Independence”, and Dr. Stephen Osuský, diplomatic representative in London. How touching was the first meeting of the men who all during the war had pursued the same aims on different stages, and how much they had to tell each other, may be left to imagination. Complete harmony prevailed at the meeting, and all the acts of the Czechoslovak National Council of Paris were formally ratified by the authorized representatives of the people at home. It was agreed also that the principles laid down in the recently issued declaration of independence should be the foundation of the new state and especially that the state should be a republic. Masaryk was unanimously agreed upon as the only possible man for the first president of the republic and his colleagues. Dr. Beneš and Gen. Štefanik, were confirmed in their offices of minister of foreign affairs and of war respectively. While at Geneva the assembled delegates heard of the successful accomplishment of the revolution in Prague, and Kramář and his associates hastened to return home.
They were received at the station royally. Preparations had been made in the meantime for the calling of a national assembly; how it was selected is not yet known. Its first session was held on October 12th. It voted as its first act that the new state should have a republican form of government, and elected Masaryk formally as the first president of the republic.
Pending Masaryk’s arrival the ministry was composed of the following persons: Dr. Karel Kramář, premier; Dr. Edward Beneš, minister of foreign affairs; Gustav Habrman, minister of justice; Francis Staněk, minister of public works; Václav Klofáč, minister of home defense; George Stříbrný, minister of posts and telegraphs; Dr. Francis Soupuk, minister of public instruction; Dr. Adolf Stránský, minister of commerce; Dr. Alois Rašín, minister of finances; Charles Prášek, minister of agriculture; Moric Hruban, minister without portfolio; Leo Winter, minister of social welfare; Dr. Isidore Zahradník, minister of railroads; Gen. Milan Štefanik, minister of war; Dr. Vavro Šrobár, minister of public health; Anton Švehla, minister of the interior.
Francis Tomášek was elected president of the National Assembly, and Francis Udržal, Anton Hajn, Adolph Konečný and Matthew Dula were elected vice-presidents.
These men are representatives of all the parties and tendencies among the Czechs and Slovaks, from the extreme right to social democrats. It is a true coalition ministry. Until final settlement is made of all the war problems and the new state is secure ly established, party lines are shoved aside. And it may be confidently expected that Masaryk, with his tremendous hold over the people, will see to it that partisanship, and above all the all-important social problems, shall not be permitted to cause violence and that the splendid record of the Czechoslovaks during he war shall not be marred by any excesses.
