Page:The Czechoslovak Review, vol4, 1920.pdf/296

The first number of the new issue of the Times (“Čas”), a paper which before the war was the organ of Professor’s Masaryk’s party, and soon after the outbreak of war was suppressed by the Austrian authorities, publishes an interview with President Masaryk. After having heard from the correspondent that the Times (“Čas”) will again be conducted on the lines of its pre-war realistic and progressive tendency, President Masaryk gave the following views on the intellectual and social position of Czechoslovakia:

“Realism may prove a very sound conception in the rebuilding of our State. We certainly need to become aware of facts and realities as they are. Among us there are still many people who are satisfied with indefinite and unreal fancies and conceptions, and hence the necessity for concrete thinking. I have already explained many times that this does not mean to retreat from facts but to face them.”

“The realisation of our situation at home and around us must induce every man to work. As far as politics are concerned, the true policy consists in considering the average daily events from a broad world-wide view. I always believed that our Czech question is a world question. As to whether I take an optimistic or pessimistic view of our affairs, I must say that so far I have not had time for such things as pessimism or optimism as I feel a perpetual desire for work. Of criticism, of course, I am not afraid.”

“As to the attitude towards our Germans, I still adhere to the opinion which I expressed some time ago, that if the Germans will realise that the war has put and end to their hegemony and will be willing to collaborate with us, all other questions will easily solve themselves.”

To the question whether he considered the present Democratic and Republican form of the Czechoslovak State as definite and best, President Masaryk said: “I do not consider the parliamentary institutions as being untimely. The defects of parliaments consist in the facts that the electors do not send better parliamentarians. And if there are none, the councils (soviets) could not be better either. Even the councils must somehow be organized, there must be a Central Council, a Parliament in another form. Without Parliament there would be dictatorship which always leads to political and economic downfall. Politics must include not only an effort towards idealistic social establishments, but also knowledge how to establish ideal conditions. A man without boots naturally demands boots, and when he gets them, he realises that they are too tight for him and he wants them to be repaired, for which purpose he needs a bootmaker. It is the same with politics. Democracy must guarantee political experience, the defects of Parliaments arise from the defects of Society itself. Experience is also necessary for socialisation. We desire and must arrive at a higher social and economic standard, but socialisation under the present conditions is a difficult problem. For the change of the whole economic and social structure, it is necessary to possess knowledge, goodwill and sacrifice on all sides.”

President Masaryk further states that the aims of Czechoslovakia will be the solution of national, linguistic, economic and social problems. “Peace must be maintained on all sides, and in particular, an endeavor must be made to arrive at a peaceful solution of the points at issue with Poland. As regards Hungary, Czechoslovakia would be on the alert, but would not allow any provocation. Our relations with Russia were always proper and they will remain so. As regards the economic intercourse with Russia we shall negotiate. We must, of course, take into account the difficulties of communication with which Russia is faced. For some time to come trading will hardly be possible. We are not immediate neighbours of Russia and in view of the unsettled conditions commerce will be hampered.”

Masaryk’s Academy of Labor, an incorporated body of scientists and engineers, is taking up the question of increased farm production which under Austrian rule was neglected  In one year more was done about experimental farms and farmers’ bulletins, than in fifty years of Austrian rule.