The Czechoslovak Review/Volume 1/Masaryk among Russian professors

MASARYK AMONG RUSSIAN PROFESSORS

 

The Association of Russian university professors held a meeting on May 30 in honor of Albert Thomas, member of French cabinet. There was a large attendance, and Minister Thomas spoke at length on the relations of free Russia to France. At the close of the speech Prof N. J. Karejev, of the executive committee of the Association, called the attention of those present to the fact that they had among them a representative of an allied people, the well-known Bohemian statesman Prof. Masaryk.

All rose and acclaimed Massaryk with loud applause. A cry of “Hurrah for the Czecho-Slovak state” was received with many signs of approval. Profesor Masaryk thanked the Association for their enthusiastic welcome. He explained that he understood the democratic and humanitarian principles to mean the recognition of the rights of the weakest individual and the smallest nation. The Russian democracy has so expressed itself. He is persuaded that this war is fought for the protection of the smaller nations and that it will end only, when the rights of these nations are fully guaranteed; and among them are the Czecho-Slovaks.

After Masaryk arose P. N. Miljukov, former minister of foreign affairs. He said: “Is it necessary to speak of the great importance of the principle that each nation must be allowed to determine for itself what government it wants, and that the present war is fought to enforce that principle? Do we have to speak of it, when close to me sits my noble friend, the teacher of all youth of Western and Southern Slavdom? The very name Masaryk reminds us of our task to liberate the Czecho-Slovaks together with the Slovenians. And that is what all the Allies told President Wilson to be one of their war aims at the end of December of last year.”

---

 

If you have friends who might be interested in the Bohemian Review, please send us their addresses, so that we may mail them sample copies.