The Czechoslovak Review/Volume 1/The Real Enemy

by Charles Pergler

The Real Enemy.

(From a lecture delivered by Charles Pergler at the University of Texas, May 10th, 1917)

The methods by which Bohemia was subjugated during the Thirty Year War characterize well the utter unscrupulousness and even the barbarity of the Hapsburgs. Prior to that war, Bohemia was a prosperous country, with more than three millions of inhabitants. The ruthless policy of extermination of the best element in Bohemian national life is best indicated by the fact that when the peace of Westphalia was concluded, the prosperous kingdom was little better than a desert, with about eight hundred thousand impoverished inhabitants. Indeed, at one time, in the middle of the eighteenth century, it seemed that Bohemian national life had come to its end. The policy of Germanization seemed to be successful. And this is not an isolated example of the methods adopted by the Hapsburgs against small nationalities.

Austria-Hungary not only always opposed the legitimate ambitions of its own peoples, but its whole foreign policy was ever dictated by a desire to smother the tendencies aiming at the liberation of various nationalities and their unity in national states.

When in the third decade of the nineteenth century the Greeks rose against the Turks, they found one of their worst enemies in the Austrian government, and Greek independence was recognized only as a result of the insistence of the Allies of today: Russia, France and England. It is an interesting fact that President Monroe, in his historic message formulating the doctrine which now bears his name, also advocated the recognition of Greek independence, so that when we speak of the Allies of today we can properly add the United States of America.

When, in the thirties of the nineteenth century, the Belgians rose against Dutch domination, it was again Austria, assisted by Prussia, which was ready to put down their movement with the sword, and the freedom of Belgium then, as now, was defended by the Allies of today: England and France. The whole history of the movement for the liberation and unity of Italy is a history of wars against Austria. Italy owes its liberation not only to the heroism of its own sons, but to armed support of France, and the diplomatic assistance of England. It is an interesting fact that for a long time Austria was the enemy of German unity, which was made possible only after the defeat of Austria by Prussia in 1866.

But the continuous opposition of Austria to the principle of nationality may perhaps best be seen in her attitude towards the Balkan nationalities, and especially the Serbs. The Hapsburgs, when the Turks were forced to give up their conquests, did not liberate the Roumanians and Serbs, but simply annexed a large part of the lands inhabited by them to their own empire in the hope of extending their dominion as far as Salonica and Aegean Sea. The erection of new independent national states in the Balkans was not in accord with their plans and imperialistic aspirations, and Austria-Hungary developed into as dangerous an enemy of freedom for the Balkan nations as Turkey ever was.

The main reason why Austria was unsuccessful in her policy of penetration in the Balkan peninsula is to be sought in the rivalry of Russia which, related to the Balkan nations both by blood and religion, pursued a policy directly opposed to that of Austria. While Austria was the enemy of independence for the Balkan nations, Russia favored the erection of independent states in the peninsula, and, as a matter of fact, every Russian victory over the Turks was followed by the creation of such an independent state. It would, of course, be naive to claim that Russia did not have in mind the extension of her own influence, but it cannot be gainsaid that the Russian understanding of Russian interests was consistent with freedom for oppressed Slav nations, while Austria saw her interests onlyin opposition to their liberation.

The crimes of Austria against the principle of nationality culminated in the infamous attack upon Serbia. This little country, strengthened by the two victorious Balkan wars, formed a strong barrier against the Austro-German Drang nach Osten. The rise of the Serbian state, of course, created a desire on the part of Austrian Southern Slavs for national unity; Serbia became the Piedmont of the Balkans. For this reason, and this reason alone, Austria sought to destroy independent Serbia and pounced upon the unfortunate land like a vulture.

Does not this recital furnish sufficient proof that the very existence of Austria is a negation of the principle of nationality? If there is to be permanent peace, if, to paraphrase one of President Wilson’s statements to the senate, the world’s life is to be stable, if the will is not to be in rebellion, if there is to be tranquillity of spirit, and a sense of justice, of freedom and of right, the Austro-Hungarian state must go, even as the Turks must be driven from Europe.