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Show Former Professor of Prague University Chosen as the First President. WASHINGTON, Nov. 11. The Czechoslovak Czecho-slovak republic has begun its existence and the Czechs and Slavs, now numbering number-ing about 11,000,000 people, having thrown off the yoke of Austria-Hungary, become free for the first time since 1620. Thomas G. Masaryk, formerly professor profes-sor of philosophy at the University of I'rague and since 1915 president of the Czecho-Slovak national council, winch was recognized by the United Slates and the allies as a d? facto government, has been selected as the republic's first president. Be is now in Washington, and was notified today of bis selection by the council, which urged him to proceed pro-ceed immediately to Prague to take up further formation of the new government. President Masarvk will leave within a fortnight. He spent today preparing an adorer to the 2,000,000 Czecho-Slcvak residents of the United States, Before sailing be will complete negotiations with the authorities here for material aid to be given to the new nation and its armies, one of which is in Siberia, one in France and one in Italy. President Masaryk was informed of his' selection bv a cable message which said Vice President Kramarz. now in Geneva, would take up his duties as. acting president presi-dent of Czccbo-Slovakia. Dr. Edward Benesh, formerly of the University of Prague, who has been SoHcted as minister minis-ter of foreign affairs, sent the message, which came through tho state department depart-ment by way of Paris and was dated November 0. Dr. Milan Stefanik, a noted astronomer, who has been at the head of the Czecho-Slovak army In France, has been selected minister of war. The cabinet is to be completed as soon as President Masaryk 'reaches Prague, which will be the capital. The dispatch said the general political and sx-ial situation in Bohemia made necessary his immediate presence, that he" had been given unlimited authority and that all of the new government's activities bad teen enthusiastically approved. |