English Translation

54a - 18 - III. The "Czech National Association" At this time, the foundation of the "Czech national association" (České Národní Sdružení), the organization of the free thinking people of the Czech-Americans, which carried on its shoulders the burden of the whole struggle of the first years and which was the source of a tireless revolutionary energy all the time, was the leading factor of the revolution struggle on the other side of the ocean, already on the 18th century. On 25 August, director Josef Tvrzický called for a meeting of a close circle of friends in Chicago to revive the thoughts of Nygrýn and Janák and the rest of them. This view prevails and the confrontation decides that it is necessary for the American "National Council" ('Národni rada'), whose seat is in Chicago, to accept the work. At the request of the "National Council", the "American Presidium and the "Czechoslovak Support Committee" ("Pomocný výbor československý") a new, numerous gathering, and the invitation sent out to the assembly leads to: "To all friends in the interest of the independence of the Bohemian countries". The prögramn then already cites these questions: "1, How can one best help our homeland materially? 2. What should be done in the interest of Czech self-government and independence?" From this it is clear that our people at that time have not emphasized the Slovak question and that they in the . Setting their goals were very modest and reasonable careful, since they understood that these things were in agreement with other factors to be decided and that, if the American foreign action had to gain a certain authority, it did not have to be rushed, but had to be conducted with a sense of responsibility. What a difference from the first beginnings elsewhere, outside Amerik=s, where there were just overruns that were almost ridiculous! At this meeting becomes the first secretary of the "Czech National Association" of the editor Karl Vinklárek, chairman of the new, organization without tradition and without names, - 19 -