Council acquired, the more the colony withdrew, automatically ceasing to take part in politics. Štefánik had no dealings with the colony at all.
From the moment when the National Council obtained recognition of the status of our army in France, its relations with the colony were almost completely accommodated. In the end there was a settled agreement with regard to co-operation, so that, especially from the spring of 1918, the colony supported with great devotion the activities of the National Council. In the summer of 1918, when preparations were being made to transfer our volunteers in France from the Foreign Legion into our army, the political side of our volunteer movement, and the agenda of a politico-consular character were entrusted to the National Council.
When a provisional Government was set up, the final stage of this development was reached. The colony resumed its function as a central union of compatriots, and all its requirements in relation to the French authorities were attended to by the offices of the National Council. In addition to the central colony in Paris, a Sokol society and the Social Democratic league, “Rovnost,” were active as well, and a Franco-Czechoslovak Chamber of Commerce also was established.
(e) The National Council and our Revolutionary Organization in the Allied Countries
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In England, at the very outbreak of the war, an organization of our fellow-countrymen was formed, which arranged for volunteers to join the British and Canadian Armies and attended also to the legal protection of our people who were exempted from internment as members of a nation friendly to the Allies. It also immediately got into touch with our colonies in the other Allied countries. From time to time, too, it ventured upon political work. After Masaryk’s arrival it recognized his authority and acted upon his suggestions.
At the end of 1916 Masaryk established in London the Czech Press Bureau, which at his request placed itself under the direct control of the secretariat in Paris. Later on it almost entirely severed its connection with the colony, which began to limit its activities to matters involving legal or material assistance to our fellow-countrymen, especially those who
