Page:The Czechoslovak Review, vol4, 1920.pdf/324
prospect throughout the Republic, while ownership would be divided between the banks and the oil company. Much opposition has been developed to the tentative contract due to the fact that the principal stockholder, the “Galizia”, is a foreign corporation, which, it is rumored, is controlled by the Imperial Company a British-French corporation. This is further intensified by the discovery of oil seepages in various parts of Slovakia and Russinia. No definite action has been taken but it is safe to assume that the concessions will not be granted
President Masaryk signed a bill which has been received throughout the republic, particularly by widows, orphans and trustees with favor. During the war many Bohemians and Slovaks were forced to put their property into Austro-Hungarians war loans. Had not the government passed this bill many of these people as well as some financial institutions would be ruined. Under the provisions of the bill, holders of Austro-Hungarian war bonds may turn these in to the government and receive 75% of their face value in Czechoslovak bonds bearing interest at the rate of 3½% per annum, provided they subscribe a like amount to the new bond issue contemplated by the republic. The additional bonds for this are to be paid for in cash and will bear interest at the rate of 5½%, and industrial concerns, having a pension system in connection with their plants, will receive bonds bearing 6% interest.
It has been definitely decided that in the future all hops grown in Bohemia, Moravia and Slovakia shall be marketed as “Bohemian Hops”. For a time an effort was made to designate them as “Czechoslovak Hops” but the trade did not take kindly to the change, and as a consequence, the old trade mark is to be again used. “Bohemian Hops” are known the world over and will continue to be sold under that name.
Industrial films put out by the “Commercial, Industrial and Educational Picture Theatres’ Company of New York”, are meeting with general approbation throughout the Republic. Numerous processes are vividly pictured and brought home to spectators. Working men as well as officials of large establishments are interested in these exhibitions and in many instances production has been bettered as a result.
The forests of Czechoslovakia abound with game and as a result of the scarcity of food, poachers have become so common that their guns endangered lives of people passing along the highways and paths leading through the woods. It became necessary for the authorities to send special forces of policemen to put an end to the depredations of these people and a number of them were apprehended and brought to trial before criminal tribunals.
The eightieth birthday of the poet, Adolf Heyduk, was celebrated on June 6th with appropriate ceremonies throughout the Republic. At Písek, the home of Heyduk, President Masaryk delivered a speech felicitating the aged nationalist.
“I am intensely interested in your new Republic, because I believe that it is a bulwark of real democracy, not only for Europe, but for the world. What other nations are hoping they can do, your people are actually accomplishing”.
(From a private letter to the Editor from a prominent American temporarily residing in Paris, and who recently visited Czechoslovakia).
Mr. Charles C. Chopp, of Cleveland, an American export authority of Czechoslovak origin, has been in Czechoslovakia for several months negotiating a contract for placing large quantities of American cotton with the spinners. The middle man is to be eliminated under the proposed agreement, the cotton being supplied by the growers. The difficulties to a fast, definite and binding contract for this commodity are found in the constantly varying International Exchange rates. Under these conditions the spinners proceed very cautiously, buying only what they actually require. It is said that a skeleton agreement has been framed, the details of which are to be worked out in this country.