English Translation

The Czech Social Democrats commit themselves to asserting their relations with the German party members in Vienna and Berlin in favour of the Czech aspirations for freedom; the representatives of Czech Catholic parties and large-scale property remain temporarily excluded, etc. The new Czech entity, which appeared to be new, was called the National Party ("Národni strana") and the National Community ("Národni souručenstvi"). A speech by Masaryk dated 12.12.1919, in which he described the caecial value of the activities of the National Council during the World War, can be regarded as indicative. "During the war we confiscated your name (meaning the National Council) in a certain sense. However, since we had concerns that because of this simple fact you might find any inconvenience, we preferred the name of a 'National Council abroad'. From this alone, you should understand that we knew exactly what a position the National Council occupies in the Czechoslovak people. ... I will be happy if I can work with you to make the National Board an institution in line with the present. I have no doubt that a suitable form will be found for your further activity, for which I wish you all the best". (T.G. Masaryk, "Cesta demokracie", speeches from the time of the Republic, 1918-1920, SS. 219/220). On 1 December 1918, the National Council entered the public with a new constituent assembly, gave itself new statutes and took the name "Národni rada československá" (Czechoslovak National Council). His first activity was in determining the border of the newly formed state, preparing applications for peace conferences, preparing a bill to speed up the establishment of Czech state schools in the linguistically mixed areas, etc. His Czechization activity was clearly brought to the fore. The purpose of the organization was stated that "the National Council, as the supreme institution of self-help in all national matters, is concerned about systematic collective work in order to safeguard the interests of the Czechoslovak people in the country and beyond the national borders". - 4 -