THE CZECHOSLOVAK PROBLEM
a patrimonium, no so-called hereditary land, no mere appendage of Austria, but a land which may appeal to diplomatic negotiations and mutual agreements. It is a state, just like Hungary.”
That a mere dynastic union creates no permanent binding union between two countries is conclusively proved by the examples which history furnishes us. If two countries united by the accident of a common sovereign desire a closer union, this requires an express agreement between the countries to this effect. Thus Poland and Lithuania, though united dynastically under the Jagellons, in 1386, were not merged under one government until the Union of Lublin in 1569; and England and Scotland, while both under the Stewart kings from 1603, were not otherwise united until the act of Union in 1707. There has never been at any time such an act of union between Bohemia and Austria, like those between Poland and Lithuania in 1569, and between England and Scotland in 1707.
Where countries are united by no other bonds than those of a common dynasty it has been constantly held that they might become separated either by the operation of different laws governing the succession in the two countries, or by the wish of either country. For example, within the past century Hanover be came separated from Great Britain in the former manner, and Norway from Sweden in the latter.
The relations recently existing between Norway and Sweden were substantially those now existing between Bohemia and Austria. In each case there are[ 85 ]