‘autonomy’ of these peoples as a basis of peace, but is obliged to insist that they, and not he, shall be the judge of what action on the part of the Austro-Hungarian Government will satisfy their aspirations and their conception of their right and destiny as members of the family of nations.”
(Signed) Lansing.
This was the last Allied step which exerted any influence on the critical orientation among the Allies, and exercised a definite decision on the subject of our independence. Allied Government and official circles, Press and public opinion looked upon it as the last word. All that followed Wilson’s note consisted merely of a political or juridical supplement to it.
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After the recognition of the interim Czechoslovak Government by M. Pichon’s note of September 15th, further recognitions soon followed which confirmed our juridical status, especially when the situation had been made clear by Wilson’s reply to Austria-Hungary. On October 21st the Italian Ambassador, Bonin Longare, informed me by letter that the Italian Government was officially recognizing the Czechoslovak Government, and that this would in due course be communicated to me by a special note from Sonnino. This was done on October 24th, and a further communication on the same date sanctioned the appointment of Dr. Borský as our representative to the Italian Government.
The British Government, by a communication from Mr. Balfour on October 23rd, merely confirmed the receipt of my note of October 14th, and by a special communication from Lord Derby, the British Ambassador in Paris, sanctioned the appointment of Dr. Osuský as our representative in London.
On behalf of the Serbian Government the Prime Minister, M. Pašić, on October 24th sent me a note in which he acknowledged our Government, and at the same time expressed the great gratification of the Serbian people, its King and Government, at the recognition which we had been granted by the Allied Powers. He further expressed his satisfaction that our two nations would continue the same close relations which they had observed in the course of the war. On October 17th the Russian Embassies in Western Europe issued a communiqué by which the Russian provisional Government in Siberia
