Počátky zahraniční politiky samostatného Československa v letech 1918-1919

The Habsburg Empire collapsed as the First World War came to an end. Czechoslovakia was one of its successor states, arising thanks to the activity of the domestic and foreign resistance to Austria-Hungary. Leading the resistance was the Czechoslovak National Council, which all of the Allied Powers comprising France, Great Britain, the United States of America, Japan, Italy, China, the Provisional Government of Russia and Serbia, eventually came to recognise as an allied government, alongside recognising Czechoslovak troops (legions) as an allied army. Prague first had to deal with the issue of determining its borders with neighbouring states; the defeated Germany, Austria and Hungary. At the same time, it endeavoured to clarify relations with the Vatican and made preparations for the Paris Peace Conference. Initially, Although Czechoslovakia was initially pragmatic in co-operating with Italy, but gradually relations deteriorated due to Prague’s focus on an alliance with France, Yugoslavia and Romania, which later culminated in formation of the Little Entente.