Masaryk’s Peace Program
During his sojourn in Russia in 1917 President Masaryk wrote a book which has just been published in London under the title “The New Europe”. The manuscript was re-written by Mr. Masaryk during his stay in Washington and represents his views on the fundamental problems raised by the war, as he saw them in October 1918. In the last pages of the book—which has been printed for private circulation only—is found Masaryk’s peace program. We are happy to be able to re-print it.
(1) The Congress of Peace could convene at once, the war being morally and strategically finished—the nations become convinced that force shall not decide the fate of nations and humanity; even militaristic Prussia must confess that, non-militaristic nations are equal to it in bravery, in the spirit of sacrifice and even in military ability.
(2) The Congress of Peace should be composed of representatives of all belligerent nations, not merely of the governments. Admission should be granted to the representatives of all nations whose fate is being decided and who have a claim to self-determination.
(3) The antiquated and insincere diplomatic rule that states should not interfere in the internal affairs of other states should not apply in the coming peace congress; if democracy is truly humanitarian and if the strengthening of international feeling is not to be a mere phrase, then political boundaries must not be a shield to arbitrariness. This terrible war arose just because states have for such a long time avoided interference in the internal affairs of their neighbors.
(4) All secret agreements must be excluded.
(5) Theocratism must be abolished in all the states of Europe; the churches must be free, they must not be abused for political purposes. The American way of arranging the relations of the state and the church can serve as a suitable model.
(6) All states must abolish standing armies and employ for their defence in case of necessity a system of militia (abolishment of militarism).
(7) Navigation of the seas outside of territorial waters must be made free to all nations. Exceptions are made by international agreement. To landlocked nations access to the sec; must be secured by an international agreement; an ex-territorial harbour and duty free passage of goods will be granted at the nearest shore.
(8) Commerce is free; protection of industry and commerce against unfair competition must be regulated by international agreement.
The doctrine of the old liberalism demanding absolute freedom of trade is often exacted in a very abstract way and is deduced from conditions prevailing in western, civilized industrial Europe (principally England and France). Freedom of trade may be abused by the stronger to the subjugation of the weaker, just as war can; the subjugation may be even worse and more demoralizing. In that manner Austria—Hungary threatened Roumania and Serbia by a tariff war. Every country in the agricultural state endeavors to be come an industrial country and to be economically independent; industrialization implies the growth of a railroad system and of means of communication in general, and that again presupposes a certain degree of scientific education of the nation, practical and theoretical. Every country will want to protect itself against exploitation. From this wider cultural standpoint we must consider the watchword of free trade, and international commerce must be wisely and justly regulated for all nations by international agreement.
(9) The most difficult task of the Congress will be the just settlement of territorial questions. Owing to German aggressiveness and the Pan-german push towards the East the national questions are most acute in the East of Europe: Prussia, Austria-Hungary, the Balkans and Russia must be politically reorganized. The re-construction of the East is the primary aim of the war and of the peace. In the West there are no acute disturbing national questions: the nations of the West have thir states and well-established forms of government, they have their old civilization—France and Belgium will have to rebuild their destroyed cities and villages, to repair their factories and fields, but in the East new states, new forms of governments must be created and the
