International Conference Examines U.S. Mission of General Štefánik during World War I

Opening Remarks by Ed Kemp

We are here, thanks to the efforts of Dr Musil, to contemplate the remarkable achievements of a Slovak diplomat. But a diplomat who was unlike any diplomats who I know: a scientist, aviator, man of adventure, friend of artists and statesman.

Stefanik also had a special connection with the United States – the theme of the presentation that Dr Musil will make.

In the past year, the Embassy has celebrated the historic events in the Slovak-American relationship. In May, with the help of Dr. Musil and other historians, we presented the original Pittsburgh Agreement to the public in exhibits at the Parliament and the Slovak National Museum. Then the exhibit – without the original document – was presented in our InfoUSA centers in Bratislava, Banska Bystrica and Kosice.

Much of the inspiration for the Pittsburgh Agreement itself was born of the American belief in the principle of self-determination. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, approximately a half-million Slovaks immigrated to the United States. These immigrants from Slovak lands absorbed this principle and wished to see it transplanted to their homeland with the freedom espoused by America.

Thousands of expatriates signed up to the American army. Following the recruitment campaign of Major M. R. Štefánik, many others signed up to Czechoslovak Legions to fight for the liberation of the Czech Lands and Slovakia by the side of the Allied armies.

President Woodrow Wilson made self-determination for Slovaks and Czechs our official policy when he announced the famous Fourteen Points to Congress on January 8, 1918. By September of that year the United States had recognized the Czechoslovak National Council as the official governing body of Czechoslovakia, paving the way for Allied recognition of Czechoslovakia in October.

In December, we celebrated “Wilson City” -- the honoring of Woodrow Wilson when this capital city for him from November 1918 to March 1919. Former Ambassador Obsitnik dedicated a permanent historic plaque at Palffy Palace to preserve this memory. Again, our small exhibit about Wilson and his association with Slovakia was shown at InfoUSA.

I am personally inspired by the vision of Stefanik and those Slovaks who worked with him in 1917-18 to gain international support for the creation of Czechoslovakia. This was a diplomat who understood, in a modern way, the power of public diplomacy – the creation of a public image of Czechoslovak statehood in the American public. And also how to mobilize men and resources to make that vision a reality.

Now I will let Dr Musil continue the story of Stefanik and the United States, based on his new research.