Towards a New Central Europe
The Rome Conference marks a new period in the movement for the emancipation of the Slavs and Latins of Central Europe. The common action of the Poles, Czecho-Slovaks, Roumanians, Jugoslavs, and Italians, is bound to be ultimately crowned with success, however great the obstacles and difficulties may at this moment appear. The agreement between the subject races of Central Europe means the death warrant to the Dual Monarchy, and the guarantee of a better Europe, assuring freedom and justice to all peoples, and safeguarding the rights of humanity.
The agreement arrived at in Rome is the more important because it is accompanied by a similar movement within Central Europe itself. On Sunday, 11 March, a great manifestation took place in Prague attended by several Czech deputies, and representatives of all Czech parties as well as of Poles and Jugoslavs. The subject of the Conference was the recent peace in the East and the necessity of all Slav nations obtaining independence. The spokesman of the Jugoslavs, Mr. Palavicini, declared that the Jugoslavs would in all circumstances go hand in hand with the Czechs. A declaration of the students of Cracow was then read by two Polish delegates, saying that the Czechs and Jugoslavs were the natural allies of the Poles against the Germans. Speaking in the name of the Czech Club, Deputy Viškovský declared that all the Western Slavs, numbering over 50 millions, desired national unity and independence. He expressed the hope that the manifestation would be the first step towards the formation of a united Slav block in the Reichsrat. The following resolution was then unanimously passed:—
“Relying upon the Czech declaration of 6 January in favour of Czecho-Slovak independence, we claim the right of self-determination for all the nations, including also the Western Slavs, because only thus can an honourable and lasting peace be established. Let this demand induce the Czecho-Slovak, Jugoslav, and Polish nations to come to a common action.”
In the Austrian Reichsrat the Poles were for some time past contemplating common action with the other parties. It is true that at the last moment the Polish leaders again let themselves be bribed by empty promises and abstained from voting against the Budget, which led to the split of the Polish Club. Some Conservative organs like the Czas and
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