American Press Bureau and with Tvrzický, while I myself, after the arrival of Vojta Beneš in the United States, was in regular communication with America, and later on, when I was General Secretary of the National Council, this became a systematic and official arrangement. The Czech and Slovak organizations in America identified themselves with the open action we took on November 14, 1915, and this attitude was confirmed by the beginning of a co-operation which was then automatically transferred to the National Council, and continued without difficulties or disputes of any kind until the proclamation of a provisional Government. Formal agreement as to joint action was reached by all our American organizations at the congress held in Chicago from February 9–12, 1918. Professor B. Šimek, of Iowa City, became president of the Joint National Committee of Czechs and Slovaks, with Vojta Beneš as secretary.
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The National Council at Paris thus succeeded gradually in establishing communication with our fellow-countrymen throughout the world. They reported themselves from South America, especially Brazil and Argentine, then from South Africa, Australia, and China, and wherever possible they sent subscriptions. There were frequent cases in which our fellow-countrymen in these States spontaneously offered themselves for military service or sent contributions. As General Secretary I maintained a regular correspondence as far as possible with all organizations in the individual countries, thus linking our people with the central organization and strengthening its authority.
I kept up a correspondence with the League at Kiev, and quite regularly sent news to the National Alliance in America. Our communications with Switzerland and Holland were very active, and we were in close touch, both written and personal, with Italy and England. When we succeeded in starting our movement among the prisoners of war, and carrying out military plans on a large scale in France, Italy, and Russia (in addition to the recruiting scheme in America), our organization reached the highest point of its development as regards unity, discipline, and success. I need hardly add that I had kept in continual touch with Prague.
