Page:The Czechoslovak Review, vol3, 1919.djvu/418

on the ratification. Much emphasis was laid on the complaint that the reparations commission which would practically liquidate the bankrupt estate of the Austro-Hungarian empire had no Czechoslovak representative to look after the interests of the Republic. Dr. Benes pointed out that there was yet no treaty of peace with the Magyars who had no government with which the Allies could deal; Friedrich was unacceptable as identified too closely with monarchistic reaction. But the boundaries are settled definitely even as against the Magyars. At the end of the session the National Assembly ratified all six documents by a unanimous vote.

At the same session of the Assembly Premier Vlastimil Tusar made an appeal on behalf of the government for more intensive work by all classes of the people. The occasion was the recent unfavorable weather, snow and rain for the preceding ten days. This wintry spell came unexpectedly early, while a large proportion of sugar beets and potatoes was still in the ground. Potatoes are needed to supplement the insufficient ration of bread, and sugar is as important to Czechoslovak finance as gold, for it is relied upon to balance tlie trade with the West of Europe. Thus the unseasonable weather threatened a veritable calamity to the state. Tusar appealed particularly to the workingmen, to the adherents of his own party, the social democrats, to forget during the emergency about the eight hour law, to save the crops at whatever cost and to assist the state authorities in providing food for the cities. His appeal met with universal approval and what is more to the point, with considerable response.

An attempt to bribe the minister of foreign affairs created a great sensation. Negotiations had been going on in October for a credit of 300 million francs by French and Dutch banks to be advanced against the year’s sugar crop which these banks were to market abroad. Newspapers wrote of this deal as concluded and complaints were voiced that the terms were extortionate. Suddenly on October 31 Alois Jirák, bureau chief in the ministry of finance, and Otokar Tuma, director of the Prague Industrial Bank, were arrested for offering Dr. Edward Beneš, the foreign minister, 20 million crowns to withdraw his opposition to the proposed loan, as well as a tendering smaller bribe to Ludvik Štrympl, his secretary. Bribery of public officials has been almost unknown in Bohemia before and the indignation of the public was great, especially as one of the accused was a high public official himself. Minister of Justice, Dr. Veselý, announced the above particulars in the National Assembly and assured the deputies that both men who were not allowed bail would be rigorously prosecuted.

Czechoslovakia has ratified the peace treaties and it has no designs against the territories or wealth of its members. But it does not feel sufficiently safe to disarm. Its present government in which the socialists are the strongest element hopes in due course of time to abolish standing army and rely on militia. But for the present it finds it necessary to maintain a good-sized army and to hold on to conscription. The peace force is to be 111,255 men strong and the annual cost of its maintenance is estimated at 1304 million crowns. All young men physically fit are to serve 14 months under arms which time will be devoted to intensive drill. French methods will prevail in the Czechoslovak army. A large number of young officers have been received by the French government into the St. Cyr Academy. General Pellé, head of the French military mission, who during the brief war with Magyars was made Czechoslovak commander-in-chief, surrendered this office and was appointed instead to the position of chief of general staff; several other French high officers hold commands in the Czechoslovak army. Specially cordial relations are maintained with the Jugoslavs, and the visit of the Jugoslav minister of war, Gen. Hadžič, served to bring out the close friendship of the two Slav nations. Hadžič came with a large entourage to present a flag to the 48th Regiment, called the Jugoslav Regiment; the Jugoslavs on their side named one of their regiments the Jan Žižka Regiment. Some two thousand Jugoslav young men are enrolled as students at the University and the Polytechnic of Prague. Whatever happens, the Czechoslovaks and the Jugoslavs will remain good friends.