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CZECHOSLOVAK INDEPENDENCE

is much lower and all equipment much less costly, our men being used to simpler forms of life.)

Our army will have a special and very important part to play on the western front at the moment of decisive victory: it will have to attempt an invasion of Austria-Hungary.

I admit that our army can be used with advantage in Russia. Our men know Russia and Russian: but it would be a distinct loss to use our forces for a more police than military duty, more so, that they would not like it themselves. That of course depends on the further development of the Russian situation and on the plans of the Allies in Russia. Meanwhile, the army will stay in Russia and co-operate with the Allies.

I therefore propose that after Siberia is put into order, and that should be accomplished before winter, half of our army be transported to France; the other half could in the meantime remain in Russia.

 

It is not without interest to register what Dr. Masaryk said relative to the Russian policy of the Allies:

 

I abstain from criticizing the action in Siberia; I am not informed about the size of the military help and I do not know what political and administrative plans the Allies are pursuing. Judging from the reports I receive, and from the news I read in the papers, I am obliged to say that is seems to me that the Allies must send a considerably greater force, and that their policy towards the various Russian parties and governments (a rather dreary symptom of

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