Masaryk, Štefánik, Beneš - Declaration of Independence of the Czechoslovak Nation by its Provisional Government

At this grave moment, when the Hohenzollerns are
offering peace in order to stop the victorious advance of
the Allied armies and to prevent the dismemberment of
Austria-Hungary and Turkey, and when the Hapsburgsare
promising the federalization of the empire and autonomy to
the dissatisfied nationalities committed to their rule, we, the
Czechoslovak National Council, recognized by the Allied
and American Governments as the Provisional Government
of the Czechoslovak State and Nation, in complete accord
with the Declaration of the Czech Deputies made in Prague
on January 6, 191 8, and realizing that federalization, and,
still more, autonomy mean nothing under a Hapsburg dynasty,
do hereby make and declare this our Declaration of
Independence.