army in Western Europe would have to be directed in accordance with them.
The Ministry of War and Ministry of Munitions, therefore, in agreement with myself, re-drafted the Russian proposals in their technical aspect. Their political bearings were discussed at the Quai d’Orsay with M. de Margerie and M. Laroche, who is now French Minister at Warsaw. The negotiations at the French Ministry of Munitions were carried on partly with Professor Roques, who was then working with M. Thomas, and partly with the economist, Professor Nogar, who was concerned with the problem of recruiting foreign munition workers in France. The point at issue was to establish the conditions under which our prisoners of war, who had not entered the army, would work in French munition factories as free citizens.
At the very first discussions with General Vidalon and then in greater detail later, the following problems were dealt with:
1. The relation of the Czechoslovak National Army to the French Government and Army, and also to the Czechoslovak National Council.
2. The question of the flag, the uniform, and various distinguishing marks to indicate the national character of the army.
3. The recruiting of Czechoslovak troops.
4. The appointment of officers.
5. The question as to the use of the Czech language for the purposes of command, and also on the administrative side.
6. The question of court-martial discipline.
7. The question of financing the army and payment of Czechoslovak troops in relation to that of French troops.
8. Conditions under which the army could be used at the front.
9. The question of prisoners of war, not in the army, but as volunteers for munition work.
10. The question of disabled and discharged soldiers.
The political and military importance of each of these problems is obvious. The first one was of a fundamental character, and from the manner of its settlement would depend the logical solution of the remainder. In this respect the difficulties in France were considerable, perhaps even greater than those in Russia, for at the beginning neither the Ministry
