The position of Czechoslovakia in this respect is well illustrated by pre-war statistics. With only 25% of the area of Austria, in 1913 Bohemia and Moravia produced 90% of the sugar beets, 75% of the hops, 59% of the flax, 63% of the barley and a considerable proportion of all other important farm products. In Bohemia 51% of the soil is under cultivation compared with 47% in Germany and 44% in France. Having this in mind it is no surprise to a visitor to Czechoslovakia today to find cultivated fields covering every square foot of available plateau land as far as the eye can see in any direction from the train. The neatness of farmhouses and yards and the evidences of intensive cultivation fully equal to the best in Western Europe are impressive indications of the prosperity of the country-side.
One agricultural product, beet sugar, is of such importance that it deserves special comment. Czechoslovakia’s production of this staple commodity is, in Europe, second only to that of Germany which means that in view of her smaller population and consequent smaller home consumption, she is the only country in Europe having a large surplus of sugar available for export. Despite the drop in price of this commodity from the absurdly high prices of last Spring, there is ample reason to believe that a world shortage still actually exists and that judged from a pre-war standard, the price of sugar will continue high for several years at least. The exportable surplus production of Czechoslovakia should be a valuable liquid asset during this period that is not possessed by any other country in Europe and the good crop of the present year is, of course, particularly timely.
Important as it is, agriculture is by no means the sole resource to consider in connection with the present economic situation of a nation. Mineral resources are extremely important and what has been said regarding the strength of a country which provides its own raw materials and fuel. Again we find that Czechoslovakia has more than her share as, before the war, Bohemia and Moravia produced 74% of the lignite, 43% of the coal and 45% of the iron ore of Austria’s total output as well as 59% of the graphite and all the gold, silver, tin and radium. Even salt, one of the few minerals not found in these provinces, is produced in Russinia. The importance of this mineral wealth today is impressed upon the traveller who finds German factories burning wood to such an extent that the forest reserves of that country must be being rapidly depleted.
With such resources and with an intelligent and industrious population it is no wonder that manufacturing is well developed and covers an almost infinite variety of products. The Škoda Works, constituting one of the greatest steel plants in the world, are of course well known in the United States and many products ranging from Bohemian glass to Pilsener beer are famous all over the world for their quality. Nevertheless it is a surprise for an American to discover the extent of the textile industry of Brno or the porcelain industry of Western Bohemia and it is equally surprising to find a range of other manufactures from matches to automobiles and from surgical instruments to wooden toys.
In addition to the agricultural, mineral and industrial resources of Czechoslovakia, mention should be made of the great areas of woodlands which form the basis for an important paper and paper products industry and of the famous watering resorts, including Carlsbad and Marienbad, which should annually attract thousands of visitors and result in the expenditure within the country of a considerable sum of foreign money. Although I have not seen any of these resorts since before the war, I understand they are as attractive as ever and are already prepared for a record-breaking rush of visitors during the coming year.
It is apparent that Czechoslovakia is capable of producing practically all her own requirements and of exporting various commodities to an increasing extent as time goes on. Compare this situation with that of another European inland republic, Switzerland, which is obliged to import most of its fuel and most of its food sup-
