Page:Nosek-great-britain-and-the-czecho-slovaks2.djvu/18

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lage of German capital and it would also strengthen the Republic internally and externally as a bulwark against bolshevism. It is essential that British merchants and financiers should have full confidence in our political stability and not deny us credit. We are an industrious people, full of faith in the future, and if we do ask for the assistance of our Allies, it is only because we wish them to enable us to fulfil the economic and political mission to which we are destined as the most advanced, progressive and democratic people in Central Europe, and as the best and most reliable bulwark against Pan-Germanism and bolshevism.

b) Intellectual relations. For the purpose of a better understanding between the two countries it is essential that a more lively intercourse should be developed between the Prague University and the English Universities. A lecturer in Czech language, history and literature ought to be appointed at least at the London University. Students from Bohemia should visit English Universities more frequently and the same applies also to our young business men and engineers, who ought to come to England to gain experience. Translations from Czech literature ought to be undertaken, while on the other hand we ought to translate into Czech, not only novels but also books on political issues which for us are at present of far greater significance. Almost nothing has been translated into Czech during recent years from the voluminous literature which exists in England on such problems as industrial reconstruction, the league of nations, and other problems arising out of the war, and connected with international relations which occupy the minds of western European political writers of today.

In the same way efficient news service ought to be organised so that both ours and the English press should become emancipated from German influence. Owing to this lack of journalistic organisation, the English press still draws to a considerable extent news from German sources, often without knowing it, while our people also do not obtain sufficient information from abroad, such as they ought to get. These are difficult conditions which no doubt by and by will improve, but which deserve serious attention lest the Germans should again take advantage of us in regard to propaganda.

In this category falls also every kind of enterprise tending to promote a better understanding between the two countries, such as the arrangement of exhibitions, musical and dramatic excursions, municipal visits, and propaganda by means of pamphlets, post cards, films, maps, posters, etc.

A practical expression of sympathy such as Lady Muriel Paget’s Relief Mission to Slovakia and the action of the Anglo-Czech Relief