Paris Peace Conf. 184.01102/266
Captain John Karmazin to Professor A. C. Coolidge 64
Subject: The Bolshevist movement in Bohemia.
The principal participants are agitators who have come from Russia as exponents of the “Soviet” form of government, the leading ones [Page 364] being, Muna, Hais, Knoflicek, Friedrich, etc. They joined forces with the centralists, that is, with the social democrats who stand on the platform of the Vienna social-democracy and are opposed to the Czech-Autonomists who during the late Austrian regime took a stand for complete independence from Vienna. The centralists under the complete domination of Vienna, were passive during the war, they did not stand for the Czech demands, they did not want an independent Czech State. They were subsidized and abetted by the Austrian government. They could have passports to Switzerland for the asking, and at Stockholm when they spoke it was in advocacy of the program of Viennese Government social-democrats. Furthermore, those elements turned favorably toward the Communists returned from Russia, who had been personally disappointed or forced aside after the revolution, because prior to it they had stood with Vienna against the aspiration of the Czech nation. These are principally Smeral and Stivin, and because Smeral has under his control the funds and enterprises of his party, (Social-Democrats) therefore he wields an influence over many secretaries, and over people generally who gain a livelihood through the party. These three groups, the people from Russia who by the way, are Russian subjects, the centralists who just recently have been amalgamated with the Social-democratic party and thus have strengthened the left wing, and the Smeral group, all three groups are in direct touch with Vienna, with the Spartacists and the Russian Bolsheviks. They exploit the financial and economic difficulties in which the nation finds itself as the result of the war, they foment dissatisfaction with the republic, and very cleverly utilize the awkwardness of their opponents in the democratic press, which is really liberal, in order that they may exaggerate the dissatisfaction and exploit it. Dr. Smeral is the leading spirit. They have the advantage that they are members of the social democratic party and although they do not support its program, they enjoy its hospitality and especially its protection. Consequently the government is prevented from using drastic measures against them or even to appear to use them, for these Bolsheviks as they call themselves would incite the masses against the government and disorder and revolt. Their agitation will meet with favor only as long as want and lack of employment exist. Work and facility in obtaining food-stuffs would soon force this movement into the narrow limits of the common anarchistic movement as it existed before the war. Then their own party which have strength and will enough to do it, would easily bring them to account and get rid of them. Today that is not possible, for the people to follow him who has dissatisfaction inscribed on his banner, and who promises that through violence and revolt he will bring the people into plenty. In its heart the mass of the people do not really follow these leaders into revolt, but the desperate economic situation drives them that way.
[Page 365]It has been discovered that these Bolsheviks are in a direct and very active touch with the Bolsheviks of Vienna, Budapest and Russia. They get money from them, so that they have large amounts on hand, and are also able to maintain several newspapers at large expense. These are published at Brno, Kladno, Pilsen, Trebich, Marisch-Ostrau and Zizkov suburb of Prague. They carry on a personal agitation going from house to house, and are more active than the agitators of the other political parties, because they have the financial means. The Government has undertaken energetic measures against this, of course quietly, in order to keep the socialistic ministers from being discredited. In cities where this movement might be dangerous, systematically lectures are given by people who have returned from Russia, and who flay the Bolsheviks unmercifully. These government agitators are constantly on the heels of the Bolsheviks and impress the people favorably. The government supports the press of the other socialistic groups against the Bolshevik press, and also publishes pamphlets similar to those published in the U.S.A. and France. Separate articles which describe conditions that are similar in Bohemia, are translated from the American and French pamphlets, and are printed in the newspapers. In other ways also the government carries on an effective and systematic propaganda against Bolshevik ideas.
- Transmitted to the Commission by Professor Coolidge under covering letter No. 178, March 24; received March 26.↩