Czechoslovak Claim On German Territory

Laun

Czecho-Slovak Claims on German Territory

THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES

l3ecbo= Slovak Claimg

m

(5erman ^ettitor^ m 2)t*1Ru&oIf ILaun

AemOer

pcofe00or ot tbe Dienna Tllniversit)^ of tbe f nternational Couneel ot tbe Central (Proanidatton tor a S)urable

peace

an^

ir.5LanGe,fll>.S). B00idtant ot tbe

Surgeon

Tllniverelti^ ot IDienna

fir&t

Harrison 1)06pital, IDienna jf ormerls Bddistant ot tbe Cbicado "^niveiaits in tbe

(Itueb Ae^fcaI College)

TWltth

two maps

^ Zhc

t)afiue 1919,

martinue

flt|boff

CZECHO-SLOVAK CLAIMS ON GERMAN TERRITORY THIRD EDITION BY

I

dr.rudolf'laun PROFESSOR OF THE VIENNA^ UNIVERSITY A1EMBER OF THE INTERNATIONAL COUNSEL OF THE CENTRAL ORGANISATION FOR A DURABLE PEACE

AND

I.LANGE,M.D. ASSISTANT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIENNA SURGEON IN THE FIRST GARRISON HOSPITAL, VIENNA FORMERLY ASSISTANT OF THE CHICAGO UNIVERSITY (RUSH MEDICAL COLLEGE)

WITH

THE HAGUE

TWO MAPS

1919.

MARTINUS NIJHOFF

1st and ^^'^ editions of this pamphlet, by Prof. Laun, have been edited by Alfred Holder, Vienna,

The

december, 1918.

All lights reserved.

J | m

c \

1

preface. This study, as presented, offers nothing research.

Its

purpose, rather,

pertaining thereto, which,

it is

to

is

new

a

as

explain facts ajid

work

of

questions

to be regretted, are but little

known

abroad.

For the early

data relating to the conditions under which

historical

settlements were nuide

Crown, we are indebted of

to Prof.

in

countries

Dr.

Hans

Vienna; for the compilation of

under the Bohemian

Voltelini of the University

statistics, to

Dr. Wilhehn Winkler

of Vienna.

We

beg to convey our deep sense

of obligation

and thanks

to both of these gentlemen.

Every reader its

of this little

pamphlet

is

requested to circulate

contents as widely as possible.

Vienna, January

10, 1919.

Ubc autbors.

1362837

IFntrobuction* was prompted

I

to collaborate

work from a purely human

whom

aji

association of

with Prof. Laiui

in

this

little

interest in the fate of a people with

more than ten years has given me ample

opportunity to study the conditions related in these pages.

Under the most tryuig circumstances this long war, I

from prejudice

found them true to their

of their existence, during ideals,

of the

to me, has strengthened

that their urgent appeal

may

not

fall

Vienna, January

foi*

as well as all foreigners,

my conviction in the sterling

German-Austrian people, and

subjection

free

of nationality, a crucial test of then* noble character.

The magnanimous treatment accorded nie,

known

and singularly

justice

upon deaf 10, 1919.

I offer this testimonial in

qualities

the hope

and deliverance from an

ears or

ig-noble

meet with prejudiced minds.

:

Csecbo^SIovak Claims on German tlerrttor^.

AMONG

the principles laid

message to Congress January

February the

12, July 4,

exclusion

down by

and September

of national

President Wilson in his

and

1918,

8,

in

his

27, 1918, there

and

conquest

speeches of

were those

annexation

for

foreign

of

territory.

In his message of January

"That

it

be

made

8,

1918, he stated the following:

safe for every peace-loving nation which, like

our own, wishes to live

own

its

be assured of justice and

life,

determine

fair dealiiig

its

own

institutions,

by the other peoples

of the

world, as against force and selfish aggression."

In his message to Congress on the 12th of February he set forth:

"That the peoples and provinces are not from sovereignty to sovereignty as

if

to be bartered about

they were mere pawns in

a game.

That every be

made

cerned,

and

and not as a part

of clauns

settlement involved in this war must

territorial

in the interest

amongst

for the benefit of the populations con-

of

any mere adjustment

or

compromise

rival states."

In his speech at the grave of Washington

oti

July

4,

1918,

Wilson declared:

"The settlement sovereignty

of

every question, Avhether of territory, of

upon the

basis of the free acceptance of that

settlement by the people immediately concerned, and

not upon

the basis of the material interest or advantage of any other or people which its

own

may

jiatioii

desire a different settlement for the sake of

exterior influence or mastery."

His speech on the occasion of the issuance

Iwnd loan on September

27, 1918, urged

of

the fourth peace

8 "The impartial justice meted out must involve no discriminatiou between those to wliom we wish to be just and those to whom we do not wish to be just. It must be a justice that plays no favorites of the several peoples

and knows no standards but the equal rights concerned."

These principles, whatever their purport, were formally

to the freedom of the seas. This point, however, ject

under discussion'). As to the

became

principles

these

ac-

Only England made a reservation as

cepted in official declarations.

rest, it

bmding

legally

is

may for

outside of the sub-

be maintained that those

states

which

mutually agreed to accept them, at the moment of their acceptance

by the opposite side. But whoever repudiates international law formed in this manner, must nevertheless admit that Wilson's principles have become a political program of all the states in the declarations

which have accepted them, and that no state can afford to reject them without jeopardizing the confidence of the entire world in the of its leaders,

good faith

thereby violently shaking the foundation

coming peace.

of the

appears rather singular that one of the just newly created

It

states of Europe, although ushered into the family of nations as

an

ally of the

Wilson's

United States

On

the

it

liih

America,

is

willing to recognize

wherever most advantageous to

principles

in other respects

of

itself,

while

claims the application of the opposite principles. of

November Prune-minister Dr. Kramarz as

the mouthpiece of the Czecho-Slovak republic, declared that the republic firmly and irrevocably insists on the integrity of the Czech countries consecrated by the history of

Germans

are not to be curtailed,

if

many

centuries; that the

they become loyal supporters

of the Czech state; but a disruption of the Bohemian countries the Czechs would never permit, not only by reason of their historical

claims, but on account of the right of minorities to a free

and inde-

pendent national existence.

From rijrht

this

two

principles are evolved. First, that the historic

outweijjhs the right of national self-determination; second, that

a territory shall not be alloted to that state to which the predomi-

1)

Vide

-Words

of Reason".

Disarmament and the Freedom Berne, Bernerhof, Switzerland.

Aug. 29, 1918,

of the Seas;

and January

24,

1919:

by Pro). Laun. Piiblished in

nating majority of in

its

population natiojially belongs, but to that state

which the minority had settled

coimtries

unknown,

often

It is

in small conuuimities.

especially

in

foreign

lands,

tliat

the

imder the historical Bohemian Crown are in no wise

uniform Czecho-Slovak territory, but, on contrary embrace large purely German territories connected with other territories of German-speakin"nationally the

A

people.

The

brief statistical

statement follows.

total of the territory in question exceeds 26.000 square

German ground inhabited by more than

kilometer of old 3,000.000

Germans, not

speaking

includuig immerous enclaves of

and numerous German minorities

people

German

within

the

Czecho-Slovak territory.

To the

this territory the

official

by

step

Czecho-Slovak statejays claim according to

declaration of

step,

is

occupying

its

Prime-minister referred to above, and,

it

with troops, in an attempt to confront

the peace conference with a fait accompli. In the East, however,

the same state takes the stand towards Hungary that the right of self-determination

is

stronger than historical rights and that the

majority and not the minority of the inliabitants of a territory should decide

To

its political

allegiance.

justify this contradiction before the public a covert inquiry

was addressed to the then Austrian Prune-minister by the Czech members of the former Austrian Upper House of Parlament in its 37 th session October 21, 1918. In this interpellation they protested against

cutting

off

the

German

settlements

in

the

countries

under the Bohemian Crown in the event of changing Austria into a

German settlements they termed "Germanized borderlands". They maintained that such a confederation

of

nationalities.

These

separation would hnpair the vitality of the newly formed Czech state.

At the same tune they decided to disregard the integrity of the lands under the Holy Hungarian Crown and to unite the Slovak territory

No parallel should be drawn between and the separation of the so-called province of German Bohemia, for the following reasons: Geographically, this

with the Czecho-Slovak state. this

separation

Germaiiized border territory, resend3ling in form two outstretched

arms embracing Czech economically, cally,

it

would

territory,

would be a shapeless formation;

entail a great loss to both sides,

such crippling of the Bohemian

and

histori-

Kingdom would be no 2

repa-

10 ration for wrongs suffered, but might be considered as securing the

booty obtained in course of time. For they do not regard the part

largest

of

the so-called German-Bohemia

conquest, but as the site of a vast cemetery, the

Czech people.

of the

form

of

was

It

German-Bohemia

further

common

that

stated

by

as regained

the

grave

present

from the "Vernewerte Landes-

Avas derived

Provincial Constitution) of 1627, from the

ordnung'' (Reformed

centralizing system of the epoch of Maria Theresa, from Josefinism

and the reactionary autocracy preceding the revolution of March 1848. Also, that the most recent instances of breach of constitution under the administration of Seidler and Hussarek were for the purpose of outlawing the Czech minorities living in the Gernianized territory.

As everybody

knows that these statements do not

in Austria

accord with the facts, this interpellation was evidently addressed to the Prime-minister for the purpose of foreign

coimtries

Czech

for the

clainis

making propaganda

upon German

in

territory. It

was intended to create the impression that German-Bohemia was forcibly Germanized by the Austrian Government in recent years and

also that the territory

form

a viable state. In fact,

thatGerman-Bohemia

is

where Czecho- Slovak

is

spoken caimot

considered a country inhabited by oppressed

and that the power over German-

or forcibly Germanized Czechs

Bohemia

is

from the foreign press one frequently infers

looked upon as a condition vital to the existence of the

Czecho-Slovak state.

Such erraneous opinions can be refuted only by

facts.

the Czecho-Slovak clahns upon

German

territory are justified in the

of the prevailing democratic principles

light

and the prospective

newly developing international laws, the reader can judge

To begin with, a few words regarding the upon which the Czecho-Slovaks base It is incorrect

of

There-

a brief survey of these facts will be in order here. To what extent

fore,

Germans

the

acquired

by

in in

for himself.

historical reasons

their claims.

every respect that the present possessions

Bohemia,

the Austrian

Moravia and

Silesia

have

been

government through robbing or

ger-

manization. Tlie Germans have been in possession of their present domiciles in the countries under the

centmies

and came

way,

settlers

as

on

into

their

Bohemian Crown

for

many

possession mostly in a peaceable

uninlialjitcd

land

or

as

invited

guests.

11 Six centuries before the iinmigration

and Moravia were

Boheiiiici

oi"

the Slavs into the Sudetes,

by the German

ijihabited

tribes

Marco-

luans and Quades, which are to-day generally considered to be the forefatliers of the Bavarians. Not until these tribes emigrated to their later

homes, as late as the middle of the sixth century, Slav which were later in the 10th century united by the

tribes followed,

one Czech tribe and adopted

The latest invest igatiojis Marcomans have remained in the border-zones that there are some instances where German colonization has its

name.

disclose that several

so

suffered no interruption

by Slavish immigration.

Afterwards from the valley of the Main, from Austria, ajid Bavaria the German colojiization extended i]ito tiie Bohemian borderzones, for the greater part of the border

with dense prmieval

forests,

mountains was covered

which long served as a boundaiy,

ojily

several paths or trails leading into the country where the Slav popula-

tion in greater numbers filled the valleys of the

Moldau and Elbe.

The German

and thus

colonists theji cleared these forests

regions acquired possession of the ground

places

other

the

did

invaders or conquerors,

Germans

by right

come

into

Czech

many

iu

of priority.

Nor

territory

in as

but were called there by the Bohemia Ji

came

Bohemia

early under German influence. From Germany they received Christianity and Occidental culture. The Duke of Bohemia became a vassal of the German King and Prince

Kings.

of the

Empire. Since Przemysl Ottokar

I.

the Kings conceived the

plan to improve the culture of the country and increase their re-

venues by calling German colonists in large numbers. In this they followed the example of the Silesian Dukes, the Dukes of Pommerania,

the Kings of

Thus

man

Hungary and other

rulers of eastern countiies.

the 13th century the country was populated by Ger-

colonists to such

nated in of

in

many

an extent that the German element predomi-

places. In the Hussite

a religious nature asserted

nized flomishing

itself.

German towns,

like

many more, where the Germans were way the Germans were driven back to are

still

to be found.

The

wars a Czech comiter-current

Tlie Hussites forcibly Czeclu)-

Prague and Kuttenberg, and killed

and expelled. In

this

the border zones where they

battle of the Wliite

Mountain (1620), which any

resulted in the downfall of Czech feudal barons, did not affect to

extent the

German

settlements. In fact the

Germans had

their present holdiiigs long before the 30 year Avar.

in the

main

12 Therefore no one can say that these

German

possessions are

"booty", nor that the Czechs have a moral clami

for their

resti-

tution.

In the last decades, especially in more recent years, the coiiditions in these settlements did not

namely, the immigration of territory, resulting in

A

of the Czechs.

change

essentially, except in one point,

Czech laljoring classes into purely German

a shifting of the population to the advantage

change to then- disadvantage in such a measure

as to be of importance in the boundary question has never taken

found in the

place. Accurate statistics in proof of this are to be

great in

work

of Heinrich

Rauchberg "The national state

Bohemia". ("Der nationale Besitzstand

of possession

in Biihmen.")

The Czechs,

during the last decades have enjoyed a

on the contrary, development, of which they do not that of

it is

the

fail to boast. It is so

superfluous to illustrate with figures.

As

steady

known

to the measures

Hussarek administration against which the

and

Seidler

Avell

above mentioned parlamentary interpellation protested, they concerned changes of official organization having no connection with conditions of the settlements and which, moreover, were never carried out.

All

historical

arguments

brought

earlier times to justify claims of the

forth

from

and

present

Czecho-Slovak state

upon German

lands are, therefore, wholly untenable.

But even

if

any

historical facts in favor of the

clahns upon the lands of

Czecho-Slovak

the Bohe'mian Crown could be

they

cited,

could not prove anything in consideration of the principle of the right of self-determination. General Franchet

d'Esperay during the armistice

negotiations with the Hungarians at Belgrade, rejected historical claims

upon the

territory of

all

Hungarian

the Hungarian Crown, making

a very sharp distinction between Hungarians and Magyars. Just as the Magyar nationalism tried to synonymize the terms "Hungarian" and "Magyar", in order to justify the domination over the

non-Magyar

nationalities

of

Hungary, the Czech national

designedly places the terms "Czech" and to

justify

Therefore,

the if

domination

of

spirit

"Bohemian" on a parity

German-Bohemians

by

Czechs.

justice prevail, the Peace Conference would have to

respond to Prime-minister Kramarz' historical claims in the same

manner

as

General l-'ranchet d'Esperay replied to Count Michael

Karolyi, namely, that Czechs and Bohemians are not the same.

u The Peace Conference,

whicli

inaugurate a democratic

to

is

epoch and bring into effect the right of seLf-deterniination, will

work with

certainly not be able to

be so inclined

historical

arguments! Should

it

could not, for instance, adjudicate the Italian parts

and Triest

of Tyrol

On

it

i)

to Italy,

the other hand, the same historical view point would lead to

the re-uniting with

Germany

of vast territories of

in former times, especially in the

Europe, which

middle ages, were parts of the

German Empire,

Much

stress

is

upon the

often laid

unit historically, geographically

disrupted without damaging

This Silesia

is

its

correct only in so far as

it

a

of

Hungary — is

so encircled

presents a certain uniformity as to her

orographical and hydrographical structure.

and right

is

Bohemia — without Moravia and

A

delimitation, however,

according to mountain-ranges and watershed lines patible with the democratic

Bohemia

parts.

and without the Slovak parts

by the border-mountains that

assertion that

and economically, which cannot be

demands

is

just as incom-

of the principle of nationality

of self-determination as the historical

Should

boundary.

the Peace Conference primarily be governed by this sort of geographical considerations,

it

indivisibility of

would accordingly have

Hungary;

plete a geographical unit encircle

it,

for

to declare the unity

and

no country in Europe forms so com-

by reason

of its

mountains, which almost

Hungary. The Czecho-Slovaks themselves have adopted

as

the stand-point that the geographical unity cannot form a basis for decision

the

by claiming a

principle

(and

justly

necessarily

large part of

Hungary

in the

name

of

this —

of nationality. They have acknowledged by we believe)— that the political boundary need not

conform to the orographical and hydrographical con-

figuration.

The is

political

formation must be the primary consideration and

founded on the

and

free will of the peoples.

traffic will follow the political

however, at the time

League

^)

of the

of

Economical development

boundary. Strategical boundaries,

disarmament and the founding

Nations should be a

less

of the

deciding factor than before

Vide: Reports of the Geographical Society of Vienna, 1916, page 481,

by Hans

v.

Voltelini.

8

14 having in

a considerable degree of importance through the experience

lost

the war

of entrenchments,

i)

The same objections against the geographical boundary obtain against the economical boundary.

economical unity in consequence of

cannot hold

right

with the

fall

its

own

A

its political

unity. If the historical

against the right of self-determination,

of the historical

boundary and the

historical unity,

the economical boundary and the economical unity must also

Had

also

country grows into an

fall.

the previous economic relations (the joint possession of railways,

rivers etc.)

been

of decisive weight,

have been dismembered.

Austria-Hungary should never

The Czecho-Slovaks

who

themselves,

achievement severed the old

this division, have through economic connections and created foundations upon which new

wanted

its

economic relations

However, a

will rise.

political separation does not exclude

union. All peoples

who

and a durable peace, must hope that in this union political boundaries will not become economical contradiction

strongest

an economic

are sincere about the League of Nations

of

existing facts

is

of nations

barriers.

the

The

the false contention

that the Czecho-Slovak state cannot exist without the

German

The Czecho-Slovak territories of Moravia, Bohemia and territory is large, fertile and rich in natural resources, and can abundantly sustain itself. It will have free access to the ocean and Silesia.

to the Orient through the intei'nationalized navigation

and Danube. sustainins:

If this state

cannot exist alone,

on the Elbe

how much

less self-

must the much smaller Switzerland be!

arguments dealing with the "unity of the countries of the Bohemian Crown". These arguments cannot be upheld in the West against the Germans any more than the arguments for the unity of the coimtries of the holy Hungarian Crowm in the

So much

for the

East against the Czecho-Slovaks. Let us now consider the boundaries which will probably be drawn when the principles of Wilson and the principle of nationality which the Czecho-Slovaks in the East rest their claim

The of three

^)

upon, come into operation in the West.

historical

countries:

domain

of

the Bohemian

Bohemia, Moravia and

Crown Silesia.

is

composetl

If

the same

Vide: "Attack and defense" by Prof. Laun, Zeitschrift

recht, X. 501.

ff.

Also as reprint Breslau 1917.

fiir

VSlker-

15 historic point of view

against

wliicli tlic C/eciio-Slovaks claim in tJic West Germans were applied in the East, the Czecho-Slovak Hungary would form part of the niillenial possessions of

tlie

parts of

the Hungarian Crown.

Of these three couiUries of the historical jBohemian Crown

most important, the

largest

and the most densely populated

According to the last census of 1910

Boheniia.

tlie is

country has

this

6,769.378 inliabitants. Of these 4,241.918, or

62-66% have professed German colloquial language. with Czech and 93 with German

the Czech and 2,467.554, or 36*45% the

The country has 135 majority,

the

judicial districts

covering 33.562 square kilometer,

first

the latter

18.385 square kilometer.

Moravia, second in

size, is

adjacent to Bohemia towards the

Southeast and forms the ethnographical connection with the Slovakish

Northern part

of

whom

tants, of

Hungary. Moravia i) had

in

1910 2,622.297 inhabi-

1,868.999 (71-27%) declared to use the Czech and

German

719.439 (27-44%) the

language. 63 judicial districts covering

17.122 square kilometer are inhabited by a Czech majority and 24 judicial districts covering

("Austrian Silesia" in contradistinction to "Prussian

Silesia

Silesia")

joins

touches

she

Silesia 2)

had

a

is

part, where

predominantly Polish language zone.

in 1910 756.949 inliabitants.

German

The Eastern

colloquial

Of these 325.530 (43-01%,)

language,

235.224 (31-08%) the

and 180.341 (23-93%,) the Czech.

Polish,

There

is

a current

and Germans a

Moravia on the North. Galizia,

professed the

in

5100 square kilometer by a German niajority.

slight

important

belief

live heavily

mixed together.

However,

degree.

enclaves

that in these three countries Czechs

of

in

But

Moravia

this

is

there

German-speaking people,

true only

are

several

surrounded

Czech territory which would come to the Czecho-Slovak state

German from

enclaves were not created within the latter.

this,

by if

But aside

Czecho-Slovaks and Germans inhabit in compact masses,

each a closed territory, the Czecho-Slovaks in the centre and on the border contiguous

Hungary,

Germans in the Northern and Western parts contiguous to Germany, and in the Southern

parts contiguous to

to

the

Upper and Lower Austria.

^)

Without the enclaves

*)

(lounting also the Moravian enclaves.

in Silesia.

IG In Bohemia both iiationahties dwell in compact settlements.

A

sharply defined border line separates the two

where with

transitional of the

tlie size

divided

two

into

in

dividing-line

we

find in the

zones

territories,

two coherent language zones. Assuming Bohemia Czech and German,

sections,

conformity

German

with

the

section only

by the lingual

conditions

just

described,

300.000 to 140.000 Czech-

A

speaking people according to the boundary line drawn.

compara-

minority would thus be „sacrificed" considering the

tively small

large

and

they are insignificant compared

exist

number

in question (4,200.000 Czechs, 2,400.000

Germans). The

Nortliern and Western parts of Bohemia, which constituted them-

on the

selves

German-

basis of the right of self-determination as

Bohemia, have (according to the figures

of the last census)

of 14.464 square kilometer with 2,193.878 inhabitants.

an area

Of these

German and only 114.018 the Czech colloquial language. If we consider the entire compact German territory of Bohemia declared as a part of German Austria by the German National Assembly through the law of November 22, 1918 (Staats2,037.523 have professed

gesetzblatt Nr. 40),

numbers 126.009 Czechs, while the Czech

it

Bohemia numbers 148.622 Germaris. The Germans

territory of

Bohemia, therefore,

A still more

6%, and the Czechs

lose

of that

exact delunitation according to the lingual border

than that on which the foregoing calculation

by

division of

in

country only 3%.

is

based— for

instance

mixed communities which are intersected by the

line— would diminish the number of Czechs in German-

lingual

Bohemia

still

more. Moreover this Czech minority

distributed all over

is

not equally

German-Bohemia, but crowded together

pally in the coal regions of Briix,

Dux and

Teplitz,

and

princi-

in several

neighboring industrial districts in a comparatively small area, while the remaining large territory

The

territory of Briix,

is

almost entirely German.

Dux and

Teplitz has

become a Czech

minority through the gradual immigration of Czech miners. Previously,

however,

and

is

it

was

entirely

surrounded on

Gennan.

all sides

It

has a German majority to-day

by German

territory.

This territory

comprises altogether 59 communities, in each of which more than

100 persons have professed the Czech colloquial language. district of Briix

Teplitz

from

13%

24%,

in the district of

Dux 26% and

have professed the Czech colloquial language.

this territory tlio industrial districts of Aussig,

In the

in that of

Aside

Gablonz and

17

Keichcnbcrg juay be considered as similar islands with

German territory. Here, too, a gradual laborers in German territory has taken place. in

ties

(Jzecli

TJie

minori-

Czech

of

ijicrease

maximum

of

the Czech minority in the industrial districts of NortJi-Bohemia, is on an average 7%; of Western must not be overlooked, however, that the Czech

according to the colloquial language,

Bohemia, ]%.

It

laborers not only frequently

mining

in the

districts.

immigrate but emigrate,

principally

Excepting these islands of Czech minorities

German-Bohemia may be declared pure German territory is connected uninterruptedly with German lingual zone all along the boundarv towards

the entire territory of This

Gennaji,

the entire Prussia

in the Northeast,

Hence

in the Southwest. is

no reason for uniting

which

is

Saxony

in the North\\est,

with the ('zecho-Slovak territory

this region

separated by a sharply outlined lingual boundary.

In the East and in the South of Bohemia

also,

have constituted themselves as parts

territories

on the

and Bavaria

in applying democratic priiiciples, there

coherent

of

German-Austria

basis of the right of self-determination; in the East,

land" which

is

united with the

German

German

"Sudeten

parts of Moravia and Silesia;

iji

the South, South-Bohemia. Further East, also in South-Moravia, there is

a closed territory where German

is

spoken. In Sudetenland on a area

of 6281 square kilometer 678.431 inhabitants live.

according to the last census, profess the

Amojig these 643.450

German and 24.934

the Czech

In South-Bohemia on an area of 3261 square

colloquial language.

kilometer 184.301 inhabitajits dwell, of

whom

176.166 are Germans

and 7344 are Czechs. South-Moravia has an area kilometer wdth 173.033 inhabitants of

and 11.249 Czechs. These three

whom

of

1855 square

159.263 are Germans

districts also are

comiected by a

broad language boundary with the large compact territory speaking people, Sudetenland with Prussian

Silesia,

of

Gonnan-

South-Bohemia

with Upper Austria and South-Moravia with Lower Austria.

The previous statements are based exclusively on the of the last census.

was

tion

Up

to this time in the Austrian census the popula-

classified according to

the colloquial language,i)i.

language chiefly used in ordinary intercourse, of

race 1) '')

'"la

or

origin

langup

Vide:

parli'-e", '•die

of

Uingangssprat'lie",

Ficker,

and Congress

Keleti

request of the International Statistical

llic

the

e.

for the ascertaining

meets with insurmountable

Opinions

results

difficulties.

2)

Tlie

'spoken langua^'e".

Glatter.

exiiressod

in Petersl)urg,

1873.

al

the

18

ascertaiiiiJig

ol"

tlie motlii'i-

tojiguewuiild entail asiiuiny mistakes as that

of the colloquial language, aiui,

of

moreover, would not take into conside-

may

ration the fact that people

change their nationality in course

time. The colloquial language appeared therefore to be the most

means

suitable "objective"

of ascertaining the nationality indepen-

of the arbitrary subjective will.

dant

It

is

true that the present democratic feeling could ojily be registering tJie iiational professions

by

satisfied

and uncontrolled

subjective, free

their

of all citizens,

of the colloquial

an avowal

of tlie nationality.

of one's

is

language one professes as his

Tiie

generally considered the language one desires

the free and uncontrollable profession of the language

e.

i.

acknowledgnicnt

language has practically no other significance than

colloquial lajiguage

to use,

e.

a certain

profess

to

will

nationality. l>ut in the great majority of cases an

i.

own

Especially

Jiation.

Bohemia, Moravia and

iji

Silesia,

where for centuries two peoples of nearly equal culture and highly developed national feeling have been living side by side and where in the last decades the national contrast had sharpened to such a degree as to be noticed by the most

the profession of the

illiterate,

colloquial language has been a general profession of nationality.

The

above named figures would — we believe — be confirmed by a plebiscite in general unless the war has not brought about

any

change in the national settling conditions.

jioticeable

At any

rate, the results of the ceiisus

were contested by both

parties on the ground of the afore mentioned circumstance.

Czechs

as

The

as the Germajis claimed to have been prejudiced

well

by the census according to the colloquial language. Doubtless all the charges of this nature advanced on either side, with the ulterior motive

of national acquisition,

were exaggerated. But this cannot be

proved. However, a

final decision

can be reached only by a plebiscite

a plebiscite

the Germans

demand

jind

is

all

Bohemia, Moravia and ])y

Silesia

for the

German

against forcible national conquests

the Czecho-Slovaks, But even to-day a conclusion

with some

pi-obability.

The

might have been prejudiced

territories in

in the census

which the

mijioi-ity.

These are mostly

cades ago were totally industrial

(

be reached

'zecho-Slovaks

territories

territories

German and

may

where colloquial language

was the determining factor are the German slovak

districts of

into

development since the eighties

with Czecho-

which only a few de-

which, of

owing

the last

to

the

century.

19 Czech

laboring

possible

iinniigrated

right

people

the

population

domicile;

of

luigraled.

determine

to

from

ihv

from

for

in

iiiunigration

inaxiiiiuiu

limit

cejisus

the

of

error

results

previous

districts

as

it

is

to

the

concerning

tlio

census

can

it

be

many persojis origmate from a disti'ict witli Czech and Imw naany from a district with German majority. It

ascertained liow

majority

does not follow, however,

51% Czechs

with

his l^eing

and

a Czech

is

tliat

49%

a person originating from a district

Germans,

German about 49%; but all

his beijig

for the purpose of ascertaining tJie

of error, the smaller probability of

applies to

a Czech, the probability of

is

about 51%, and the probability of

49% may

a

maximum

be disregai-ded. The same

other cases. Tiie following comparative figures would

then be obtained. In Bohemia in 1910, Moravia,

and

Silesia

2,384.294

Galicia

persons

professed

borji

in

German

the

l^ohemia, colloquial

language, but only 2,145.750 originated from districts with

German

majority. The Czech language was professed by 4,100.705 persons, while

4,423.803

from

originated

those

countries

63-33%

with Czech majority.

districts

In the whole of Bohemia we find professiiig

among the

all

persons

born

in

Czech and 36-29% pro-

fessing the German colloquial language. On the other hand, there were 67-20% coming from predominantly Czech and 32-80% coming

from predominantly German

districts.

person belonging to a district with general result

the error

is

Even supposing that every

51%

Czechs,

is

a Czech, the

by a very small percentage;

altered

must be nmch

smaller. It becomes

reason that more than double the

immber

still

Germans

of

iji

reality

smaller for the live in pre-

dominantly Czech territory than Czechs in predominantly German territory (270.100 against 123.000), so that the Gei'man^ are con-

siderably curtailed under the above suppositions.

The preceding

figures,

therefore,

change but

the domicile instead of the colloquial language test. of the

compact German language

territory

little

Even

if

we

use

in that part

exliibiting the largest

Czech minority, namely, the coal districts of Briix and Dux, we still

find a considerable

German

majority. In the district of Briix,

for instance, the percentage of Czechs

would

rise

from 24-21% to

40-34%, assuming that everybody originating from a district, is really

would

rise

51%

Czech

a Czech. Likewise the percentage of Czechs in

from 25*80%

to

38-83%,

in Teplitz

Dux

from 12-90% to

2U 28'20%.

however, can probably be found in

Tlic correct figiUT,

all

these cases niucli nearer the lower than the higher Imiit. In addition, this coal-region lies far distant

from which In

it is

from the Czech language

German

separated by a broad strip of

territory territory.

other districts the Czech minorities counted by this

all

method

are insignificant.

We

come

majority.

the result that

to

therefore

mixed

territory, eveii in the

German

the

lingual

has a predominant German

districts,

therefore, Prime-jVIinister Iiramarz in the speech referred

If,

to at the beginning, alleged that the Czecho-Slovak minority in

German

the

territory

the reason for the Czecho-Slovak Republic

is

territory

clauning the entu'e

of

the historical Bohemian Crown,

he placed hhnself in diametrical contradiction with the principles of nationality, in the name of which the war was chiefly fought,

and the Czechs

Austria-Hungary divided

By

Slowakia.

the same

of Polish, Czech,

right the

clami

the

Hungarian

Germans could claim wide

Magyar and Jugoslav

tracts

territory, for in all of

them

they have very considerable minorities and enclaves of German speaking people, which are now lost to them by division on the basis of nationality.

The

principle

"clearly recognisable

of

lines

of

nationality",

which Wilson applies to South-Tyi-ol, if just and democratic principles, must prevail wherever a language bomidary in conformity with

is

contested,

However,

mands, not

out

in

the

plebiscite

in our case alone

only a

would

desire. satisfy

the

dem.ocratic

but quite in general, only

possible territorial units.

the smallest

can

plebiscite

and nothing more the Germans

Such Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia a plebiscite

decide.

in

zone

the lingual

If

exists.

if

de-

carried

This the

"organisation centrale pour une paix durable" has at Prof. Launs proposal already laid

August 1917. 1)

')

down

at the conference, held at Christiania in

Also the association of Vienna

German High School

Avant-projet d'un traile general relaliv aux transferts de territoires,

Rapport presente par M.

le

Baron Theodor Adelswaerd. La Have, septembre relatit aux droits des

1917, S. 37, Art. 11; Avant-projet d'un traite general niinorites nationales, Rapport, presente par M.

1917,

S.

40,

Problem by III.

1917.

Art.

Prof.

11.

Das

Recht

der

Laun, Oeslerreicbische

Halvdan Koht, La Haye, octobre

Nationalitalen

als

internationales

Zeitsclirift I'ur offentlicbes

Recht,

:

21 teachers, representative of nearly 300 Highschool teacJiers, at the

November 23rd 1918 unanimously demanded a for these demands lies in the

meeting- of

by communities. The reason

by the

arbiti-ary creation of larger constituencies or

within the existing administrative districts,

be exposed to the possibility

In case

of

slovak

tei-ritory.

language

be divided

will

Numerous

larger

iji

con-

and smaller

people will then be found in the Czecho-

Again

territory.

profession of the colloquial language

hypothetically

would

sections

being outvoted.

Bohemian Crown

the lingual

German speaking

enclaves of

many

fact that

by the voting

a plebiscite being carried by connnunities, the entire

territory of the historic

formity with

of

plebiscite

considering,

made

as

above,

the

at the last census in 1910

and approximately as the

result

of

the

future

plebiscite, there will be the following chief enclaves.

Briinn

whom

iuc

(11 conuuunities with

Germans and 43.451

136.72.-}

Mahrische-Ostrau-Oderberg inhabitants, 53.058 of

whom

9J.130 of

ijiJiabitants,

Czechs).

are

comnmnities with

(7

Germans and 42.156

99.017

Poles

and

Czechs).

Iglau are

(51 commimities with 53.450 inliabitants, 43.198 of

Germans and 9.978

whom

Czechs).

Troppau (2 communities with 36.389 whom are Germans and 5.173 Czechs).

inhabitants, 29.633 of

Olmutz (11 communities with 33.865 whom are Germans and 10.063 Czechs).

inhabitants, 23.257 of

In the above no account

is

taken of several smaller German

German minorities of German enclaves of Bielitz

enclaves within Czech territory, nor of the

Prague, Pilsen and Budweis

oi-

of the

within the Polish territory.

On several

the other hand, thei-e are no larger Czech enclaves. Aside from

very insignificant communities there

enclave within

Lihn

German

territory

(3 conmiunities

is

worth mentioning,

only

one t'Zech

viz.

with 3.334 inhabitants, 2.267 of

whom

Czechs and 1.061 Germans).

Such

small enclaves

comniunities,

for

the

Germans

possess

instance Deutsch-Brodek,

5.286 inhabitants (5.253 of whoni are

6

in

several

communities,

Czech with

Germans and 26 Czechs) and the

enclaves of Hobitschau and Hohenstadt, both of similar

size.

A mutual

90

exchange

enclaves might be

such small

of

Czecho-Slovaks would

still

territory

a

the

have the greater advantage.

Leaving these small enclaves out becomes

made by which

perfectly

of consideration, the

German

compact one; the Czecho-SIovak,

however, would be broken by several larger Grerman enclaves. to the right of self-deternunation of the

would correspond

It

nations,

enclaves of this sort were united with the state to which

if

they belong according to the expressed Jiational confession of the majority. For this purpose the so called enclaves should be formally recognized as such, and should be assigned as separate districts to

the connational state. The formation of such enclaves was advocated

by

Laun

Prof.

countries

').

in 1916 in a report

on the autonomy

of the

He then proposed the transformation of Austria

Austrian

into a con-

federation of nationalities, similar to that requested long ago

the Austrian social democrats, Remier^')

contrary to

but he put into the

and Otto Bauer 3) the

personal principle,

for

territorial

the

not satisfied with personal associations.

This

spirit

homerule, sovereign rights over a "national" territory.

demands

instead

the predominant national feeling

of is

believes the

by

foregroimd,

He

demands therefore

for "enclaves" to be the necessary consequence

of the principle of nationality applied in the real

democratic sense.

Economic, administrative and military reasons, and such reasons relative to traffic

and communication which may be objected

to in

the establishing of "enclaves", would have no importance, as long

member

as only

But the

demand

states of

an Austrian Federation came into question.

now

established on the old Austrian territory,

states

"sovereignty". It

is

easily uiiderstood that they should look

upon an "enclave" as a foreign body. The German-Austrian National Assembly has therefore on November 14, justly discussed the question of sacrificing the large enclaves of Briijm, Ohuiitz and Iglau to the requirements of the Czecho-SIovak state. If

the peace conference carries into effect exclusively the prin-

ciples of

democracy and self-determination, and the arbitrary will has not the deciding voice, such a sacrifice on the part of

of the victor

')

"Landerautonomie". Sonderhelt der Oesterreirhipchcn

offenlliches Recht, '-)

Zeitschrift

fiii-

ff.

Der Kampf der osterreichischen Natioiieii uiii Das Selbslbeslimmungsrecht der Nalionen. 1918, S. 74 ff. Die Nationalilatenfrage mid die Sozialdemokraten, S. 353 ff.

Rud. Springer.

Staat, 1902. 3)

1910, S. 78

den

23 the Germans inight not be accepted. For not only

iji

tlie

coiilederation,

but also in the planned League of Nations economic, administrative

and military considerations and such considerations and

relative to traffic

need no longer forcibly separate

comniujiicatioJi

territories

which want to be joined to each other, or forcibly unite which wish

to

The sovereignty

be separated.

necessarily undergo restrictions in the

most important and most imposed upon a state right

in

the

self-determination.

of

name

of Nations is

democracy and

and

allies hi

the one luitional

the creation of sovereign

the territory of the former

Austria-Hungary are

weightier than the interest in the consequent execution of the cratic principles in the

be

indeed

their hopes

forced

to

would

rest

compact granting than 5

League

of Nations, the

only

upon

a

German

demo-

people will

Then

enclaves.

large

decision

of

the

League

to all largei' enclaves, for instance those of

a claim

selfgovermnent on a territorial basis

a national

these

relinquish

— 10.000 inhabitants,

tJie

however, at the peace conference

If,

the interests of the victors and their national states on

of

must

of the states

League

of all restrictions

justified

territories

territorial corporation

to

the

— a claim to

(community,

more

right of far-reaching

the formation of

district)

with authori-

tative power.

This defines the aims which the realize

if

the Wilson

ment accepted by the

German

people

may hope

to

principles of the national choice of self-governbelligerents prevail,

and not

force or so-called

historic rights.

In the course

of the last

few weeks, however, the Czecho-Slovaks

have tried in various ways to influence the Germans in the countries of the

former Bohemian Crown, both amicably and forcibly, so that

at least a part of

them

reconcile themselves to the

subjugation by

the Czecho-Slovak state. The German Austrian government and the

German

authorities in

Bohemia, Moravia and

Silesia

were repeatedly

compelled to vigorously protest against onesided aggressions on the part of the Czecho-Slovaks, which probability never

The are

facts

became known

upon which these

protests

however

in

all

abroad. protests against the Czecho-Slovaks

based show that the Prague government certainly does not any Gernuin territoiy without

figure on securing a favorable vote in forcible pressure.

24 The speeches made December at

amid expression

Reichenberg

8,

1918, in large public meetings

of

sympathy from

parts

all

of

Grerman Bohemia, are characteristic examples of the feeling of the

Germans. The chief

Autonomous administration

of the

German

of

Bohemia Dr. von Lodgman called out to the Czechs amid stormy applause as follows: "Remeinber that history does not stand still, that

you

opposed,

never

will

dare

up the militarism which you

give

to

we must remain with you, for willingly we will never submit

if

The

to the Czech knout".

social

democrat Kreibich declared amidst

stormy prolonged acclamations. "The day Czecho-Slovak troops enter our town, in

Jio

work be allowed

factory or workshoj) will

to

be done, or houscdoor to remain open; on this day no iim, nor place of business will be allowed to be open,

no railway train

to run.

no tram

no conveyance,

car,

The Czechs must have the

on

feeling

day that they have entered a dead and desolate town.

We

this

will

do

everything to protest against violence and to safeguard our rights.

Only as a else

the

and extreme measure,

last

will

we

resort to force,

can preserve our self-determining rights. hardships

mountains

of

war

several

for

of Tyrol, in the Carpathians,

Comnmnities,

all

for naught, then

we

on

years

If

nothing

if

we have endured

the

on the Piave and

snowcapped in the

Seven

are ready to brave the Jeschken

and the Jaberlich!"' But the German people of Bohemia were not cojitent with speeches alone. Oji December

held in lution

parts of

all

8,

1918, great public meetings were

German Boheniia

to bear oui- distress together, freely

and

at which the following reso-

was unanbnously adopted. "A people

to defend

man by man

in

our honie and native country.

upon our strength which may be bent but not broken. direct our schools, our culture

further

dismemberment and without

we

will leave

it

alien influence, without

Jiational hatred.

If

we

are

of rest,

peace and indepen-

was unanimously resolved by Gernum men and

at the folksgatherijig held

— except

to

we vow!"

Fui'thei'.

women

rely

want

nothing undone to obtaiii by right or might

a free country for our children— a country dence. This

We

We

and our administration ourselves and to

become a united and happy people without outraged,

we vow

distress,

and proudly and of one accord,

in

all

German-Bohemian towns

where forcibly prohibited by the Czech o-Slovaks

to submit to the Czecho-Slovak state.

— never

25 It

was then luianhuously

resolutioji to President

"The German people and

af^Toed

to

tiaiisiiiit

liu;

I'ollowijig

Wilson and the governments of the Entente. in

Bohemia

live

in

compac( settlements

a part of the whole German people. The German-Bohemian particularly has for decades defended his nationality devotedly and feel

courageously. Not one of the 2V2 million Germans in Bohemia will give up his home, his customs, his national character. The culture of

German Bohemians and

the

their

economic power give assurance

that German-Bohemia can stand alone as a free and country. The

German people

ijide pendent

Bohemia demand absolute unconditional independence and rely upon President Wilsons' word of the right of self-determination of the nations. The German people of Bohemia expect justice from him and from the peace conference, for it cannot be the will of a in

just man to wrest the Germans of Bohemia from their people and subject them to foreign rule. The leaders of the present victorious states have repeatedly declared to fight for justice

and the liberation

oppressed small nations. Such justice cannot

of

be withheld from the

German people

autonomy by the grace

we have been civilization

in

Bohemia.

We

of a nation that hates us,

in bitter conflict for decades.

and humanity we

call

do not want

and with

In the name of

whom

justice,

the world to judge!

He who

like one of the authors of these lines originates from GerBohemia, knows that the overwhelming majority of all Germans in Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia persistently decline a union with

man

the Czecho-Slovak state, and in spite of in

spite

of

all

economic

all

threats

and coercions and

temptations will consider

the

political

union with the great German people as their principal aim. Should force prevail against such will

Czecho-Slovak imperium

imperium If,

of the

will

of the people,

then the so founded

be wrecked in the same mamier as the

Magyars over the non-Magyar nations

of

Hungary.

however, the majority of the Czecho-Slovak nation and the ma-

jority in the peace conference be

governed by moderation

and

if

the right of self-determination of the Germans be recognized, it will lead to a sincere and final reconciliation between the

two nations. The benefits

great

German

people could expect the greatest

from such a reconciliation with

these capable

dustrious people whose settlements reach to he centre of the

speaking zone.

and

in-

German

26 The Czec'ho-Slovaks, however, would derive equal benefits, for their boundary is three-fourths German, they have a history of many hundred years

them by

in

common

By an

objective study of these facts every friend of humanity,

whatever his nationality principles of iiational

triimiph.

with the Grermans and are united with

countless bonds of culture.

may

be,

freedom

must be induced and

not national

to hope that the

imperialism

may

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