The Czechoslovak Review/Volume 4/Number 9/Czechoslovakia

The birth of a new republic is a milestone in history and involves problems in government and industry which require, in their solution, a high quality of statesmanship. To establish successfully a new republic in Central Europe means the surmounting of difficulties which most of us in America do not appreciate and only half understand.

Central Europe has long been the stronghold of autocratic monarchical governments and the people in the territory which now constitutes Czechoslovakia were among the chief sufferers. They are an unusually well educated and cultured people, statistics show only one half of one percent illiteracy, their industries are highly developed and their country is one of the garden spots of the world. In spite of these qualifications, however, they have had little real voice in the management of their government or industries. The Czechs and Slovaks were compelled to submit to the dictates of the government at Vienna and Budapest in which they had slight representation, but very little influence, their industries were controlled by and exploited for the benefit of German and Austrian capitalists and their international banking was monopolized by the international banking houses of Berlin or Vienna.

This situation could have only one result when the Czechs and Slovaks obtained the independence for which they had been hoping and struggling for centuries. Experienced governmental administrators, industrial executives and international bankers cannot be developed over night and the roots of a system which has fastened itself upon a country for generations cannot be up-rooted at will. The people who today make up Czechoslovakia have a common national aspiration but they are not yet homogeneous and it is naturally difficult at times to reconcile varying interests. Further, there is continual opposition, sometimes carefully concealed, from those who were formerly in authority and from those elements in the community who under the new order of things have been deprived of the special social, economic and political privilege which they formerly enjoyed.

In spite of these handicaps, however, I have absolute confidence that Czechoslovakia has an unusually bright future. In President Masaryk she has one of the greatest statesmen of the world. The country is extremely fortunate in having in its service one who combines in such a high degree the qualities of intellect, force, sympathy, understanding, leadership and diplomacy. He has gathered about him a Cabinet of capable, earnest men, which ranks with the Cabinets of any of the older nations. These leaders are going ahead confidently, tackling and settling the many problems as they arise; are dealing fairly with every element in the community, and their success has been the marvel of both Europe and America. This admiration and recognition from the outside world is increasing their self-confidence and bringing out latent powers in the people which had never before had an opportunity to assert themselves. The progress already made has regenerated the people and raised not only themselves, but their Czechoslovak kin in America, in the estimation of people of other nationalities.

It would be idle, however, to claim that their problems are already solved. The task of reconstruction can only be completely accomplished after years of effort. Just a few references will indicate how far reaching and important these problems are. In pre-war days the country’s industrial production was dependent on German and Austrian agencies for world distribution; the Prague banks were provincial in character and not organized to do an international business while the railways were subsidiaries and branches of the German and Austrian trunk lines. To reorganize and reconstruct these fundamentals of industrial prosperity requires not only men ​with vision and initiative but capital and credit.

Today Czechoslovakia has capital and credit in limited amount only in spite of the fact that its industrial position, its agricultural development and its mineral wealth would in normal times command almost unlimited credit. Conditions in Czechoslovakia and neighboring countries are not normal, however, and “just for that reason the people in America of Czechoslovak birth or descent have a golden opportunity which they should be far-sighted enough to grasp. Financial help from America did much to make the birth of the new republic possible and financial co-operation will be the best assurance of rapid and sound reconstruction. The sane constructive work of the government at Prague has raised the Czechoslovak races in the estimation of the world and patriotism and pride of ancestry should urge us to do everything within our power to help our fatherland on the road to success. Aside from patriotism there is a real opportunity for American Czechoslovaks to make good financial returns during the next few years. The country has industrial possibilities that are not surpassed by any country in Europe and when political conditions in neighboring nations improve it will be one of the open doors for Russian and Balkan trade.

Czechoslovakia has a wonderful export opportunity, which can be taken advantage of immediately, if raw materials and credits are made available. Well built and efficiently equipped plants with an abundant supply of skilled labor put the textile manufacturing industry in a particularly favorable position. Credit is the only thing needed to put the steel and iron industry on a prosperous and profitable basis, because coal is abundant and iron ore is available. There are no more skilled cabinet makers anywhere than in Czechoslovakia and the bentwood furniture which they manufacture is known and sold in every corner of the world. This industry is capable of wonderful development. Glass manufacturing Czech Technical School, Prague is another of the major industries and sure to become more important. The Gablenz district beaded goods, imitation pearls, buttons, embroideries, laces, jewelry, toys and kindred products are known the world over. The agricultural production in normal times is much more than adequate for home needs. Sugar can be exported in great quantities as well as many other miscellaneous food products. Czechoslovakia has fortunately been blessed with abundant natural resources such as timber, coal and many of the more important minerals, so that her future industrially is assured if given a proper start.

The country needs cotton, copper, brass, mineral and vegetable oils, rosin, turpentine, fertilizers and other raw materials from the United States. America could also sell them modern labor saving automatic machinery and tools, agricultural implements, automobiles, tires, mechanical rubber goods and many other miscellaneous manufactured products.

Czechoslovakia, given an opportunity, the right kind of co-operation and financial assistance from the American Czechoslovaks could very soon take her proper place among the powers of Europe and it would not be long before her commerce would show credit balances. There is even now no good reason why Cechoslovak crowns should be fluctuating around fifty to the dollar because the country’s natural resources, industrial plants, buildings and construction are intact. With our confidence and understanding, and based upon the country’s national wealth and stability, the crown should be several times its present value in dollars. Speculators in European exchange are probably more responsible than anything else for the present unfavorable rate.

Let us not stand idly by while this nation of brave men and women are struggling for an existence, they are not asking Charity, they need our co-operation and assistance, and they are deserving of it, we must not fail them.