BOHEMIA AND THE ALLIES
the signatures of the President of the Republic, the Premier and the Foreign Minister:—
“(1) The Czecho-Slovaks, organised in an autonomous army and recognising the superior authority of the French High Command from the military point of view, will under their own flag fight against the Central Powers.
“(2) Politically, this national army is placed under the direction of the Czecho-Slovak National Council whose headquarters are in Paris.
“(3) The formation of the Czecho-Slovak army is guaranteed by the French Government.
“(4) The Czecho-Slovak army will be subject to the same dispositions as regards organisation, hierarchy, administration, and military discipline as those in force in the French Army.
“(5) The Czecho-Slovak army will be recruited from among―
“(a) Czecho-Slovaks at present serving with the French army;
“(b) Czecho-Slovaks from other countries, admitted to be transferred to the Czecho-Slovak army;
“(c) All those who will voluntarily enter this army for the duration of the war.
“(6) Ministerial instructions will later on settle the application of this Decree.
“(7) The President of the War Cabinet, the Ministers of War, and Foreign Affairs are charged, each in his own sphere, to bring the Decree into effect.”
This Decree was recommended to M. Poincaré for signature in the following terms:—
“Monsieur le Président,
“France has always supported with all her power the national claims of the Czechs and Slovaks. The number of volunteers of these nationalities who placed themselves under the French flag from the declaration of war is important, and the gaps in their ranks prove incontestibly the ardour with which they fought against our enemies.
“Certain Allied Governments, and in particular the Russian Provisional Government, did not hesitate to authorise the formation on our front of units composed of Czecho-Slovaks who had escaped from the oppression of the enemy. It is just that these nationalities should be given means of defending under their flag side by side with us the cause of the right and liberty of the peoples; and it will be in accord with French traditions to assist the organisation of an autonomous Czecho-Slovak army. If you share our view in this matter, we have the honour to invite you to sign the enclosed Decree. . . .
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