English Translation

105t - 48.- factors were handed over several more. Particularly significant was the declaration of the "Czech National Association" on the American elections towards the end of the year l9l6. The American Germans had given the slogan and the order that German emigration should not be elected as American, but as German. This appeal was directed against the democratic party and especially against President Wilson, and the Germans hoped that the overthrow of Wilson would prevent the threatening military annexation of the United States to protect the Allies. But this step provoked such fierce resistance in all the political circles of America that it only harmed the Germans very much, at that time Roosevelt stood up very forcefully against a "dismemberment of Americanism", against the "hyphenates", which felt more with the former, than with the new American homeland, so that the resistance against the immigrants also made themselves felt against the non-German, therefore also against the Slavic Emigration. At this moment, the "Czech National Union" comes before the American public with the appeal to the compatriots, in which it urges them to vote not only at this moment but also as Americans, and after the best practice, and to intervene in American political questions. The whole American press considered this call and pointed out it as the model of the right bourgeoisie. It is not necessary to doubt that ours as well as ours were democratically elected. We were in America, up to this war and this both Czechs and Slovaks, almost completely unacquainted. We knew that the sympathies and help of the most powerful republics in the Americas would win, the hearts and minds of their people would win. We were in a democratic country. Therefore, already in the year 19l6 large customers were organized in all the great cities, where Czech and Slovak colonies were. On these our sympathies for the Allies and our longing were proclaimed nch liberation, these manifestations enjoyed a constantly growing interest of the Americans. When then in the time of the Amercan intervention in the war events all parts - 49 -