The National Assembly of Prague, April 13, 1918
The Journals which refer to this memorable meeting have not been allowed by the Austrian Government to be sent abroad. The Czechoslovak National Council has nevertheless succeeded in securing a copy of “Lidové Noviny” of April 14th, which throws some interesting light on and gives details about this meeting.
“Yesterday at 10:45 the 23 Jugoslav deputies arrived with some journalists and four ladies. They were welcomed by a large crowd outside the station. The Croatian deputies included all the deputies of the Starčevič party and deputy Kresić as the official representative of the Serbo-Croatian Coalition in the Croatian Diet, which has not up to now endorsed the policy of the Jugoslav declaration. Deputies Pribicevic and Budusavijevic came also to Prague. The Slovenes were represented by Dr. Korošec, wro arrived on the previous day with the president of the Czech Union, Staněk.
Some delegates to the Conference arrived at 8 o’clock and at 10 A. M. the large Smetana Hall of the Representation House in Prague was quite full: There were deputies to the Reichstrat and to the Diets of the Bohemian lands representing all parties. Only the Slovaks could not for obvious reasons attend. There were representatives of the Czech University, of both Czech High Technical Schools, of the Academy of Arts and Science, local governments, important educational and economic corporations so that all the parties and classes were as completely represented as never before. The galleries, too, were full up, and the space for the Orchestra was occupied by the Opera Choir. When the Jugoslavs entered, they were greeted with loud cheers.
At 11 o’clock the Choir opened the meeting with the Hussite hymn “Ye Who Are God’s Warriors”, while the whole Assembly rose from their seats. Deputy Staněk delivered the opening speech where upon the Czech author Jirásek delivered the main address. A great storm of applause greeted the old master and was repeated when he sat down again. It was a historical speech, but there could not have been a more political speech than these calm, hearty and sincere words of this writer of historical novels. No historical review could be more timely and more inspiring for the future. The impression was tremendous and both the speech and the appearance of the old master inspired the whole meeting. Unlike the professional politicians he delivered a speech of national prophecy, and his words bore the impression of wisdom and prophetic enthusiasm. And when he read the oath of fidelity and the whole Assembly rose to take the oath, such enthusiasm and exultation prevailed that every one felt that it was one of the most sacred moments in Bohemian history, and tears were standing in many eyes.
Immediately afterwards, under the impression of Jirásek’s speech, the Assembly sang “Bývali Čechové” (The Czech Heroes of Yonder. . . .), and a feeling of brotherhood overcame them. The Croatian Deputy Pavelič then delivered a Croatian speech which every one could easily understand and which was enthusiastically received. The enthusiasism grew still stronger when Dr. Korošec rose to speak and added a Jugoslav Oath to the Czech one, saying that the fate of the Czechs and Slovenes is the same, and that nothing could divide their brotherhood of race and suffering. Thereupon the Choir sang the Croatian Anthem “Ljepa Naše Domovina.”
After Korošec spoke Dr. Kramář and Habermann, the President of the Czech Social Democratic Club, who declared in the name of his party that they would faith fully stand behind the nation in its struggle for a Czech-Slovak State. He paid a tribute to the Hungarian Slovaks, who could not be present owing to the Magyar terrorism, although they surely were present in spirit. The choir then sang the Slovak Anthem “Nad Tatru sa Blýská.”
After deputy Klofáč had spoken about the Czech women and mothers whose name Count Czernin abused, deputy Staněk then closed the meeting. The Assembly then sang the Czech National Anthem “Kde domov můj?” and the delegates went home. In the street they were received with ovations by the people, especially Jirásek and the Jugoslavs who were followed by the crowd to their Hotel “Zlatá Husa” on the Venceslas Square. From the balcony of this hotel the Croatian deputy Radič was obliged to speak to the people. The whole manifestation went off in absolute order, thanks to the efforts of the organizers, Švehla and Kvapil.
