10
THE
HONGKONG, TELEGRAPH,
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER
14.
1988.
Historical Survey Of Czecho-Slovakia And Its Problems
HOW CRISIS DEVELOPED
Dramatic Intensification Of Political Problems During Last Five Months
CZECHO-SLOVAKIA, contro-point of the present European political
crisis, has often been described as a "Child of the Versailles Treaty". The work of The appellation is apt, although not historically accurate. creating an independent state of Slav peoples started in carnest before the Great War, when the minority races of Bohomia and Moravia were suf- fering under the rule of the Habsburgs. The War merely gave a tremend- ous impetus to the movement and presented groater opportunitios to its leaders.
With Austria throwing in her lot with the central powers, the Czechs found themselves ordered to fight the Serbs and Russians. When 2,000,000 of these figh- ters, which included Slovak, Serb, Croat, Slovene, Polish, Ruthenian, Rumanian and Italian subjects of the Habsburgs deserted, the Austrian army became disintegrated, and by August, 1918, the revolutionary leaders abroad, notably Professor Thomas Masaryk and Dr. Edouard Benes had persuaded England to recognise the Czecho- slovaks as an allied nation and had confirmed the right of their National Council to speak for the "future Czechoslovak Government," when Austria accepted President Wilson's peace terms in October, 1918, the Czechs regarded this as acceptance of the recognition of their independence and the reins of Government were seized in Prague without bloodshed.
This was drawn up by the leaders of the three "Activis!" Parties, and proclamation which, in February formed the basis of a Government 1937, laid down new principles of minority policy. The proclamation covers six main points:
This coup brought to on end a Czech mutiny against subjection which had started in the eleventh century when Bohemia was forced to join the Holy Roman (German) Empire, and which continued through the centuries until finally the yoke of the Habsburgs was also thrown off. The coup made possible the creation of Czecho- slovakia, a creation later substantiated by the Treaty of Versailles. The principal effect of the peace treaties was to give a favourable delimitation of the Czechoslovak frontiers. The historical domin- ions of the Bohemian Crown, as far as they had still been with Austria-Hungary, were restored; Slovakia and Carpathian-Ruthenia (2) Social welfare and health were taken from Hungary and joined to the new State. Two diservices, especially child relief, shull tricts of Lower Austria and one small area of Germany were added be administered by Germans wher for reasons of communications. Thus did the now State of they form a majority. Czechoslovakia come into being.
ot
(1) In the placing of Govern- ment contracts, local enterprise and loud workers shail have first con- sideration.
(3) More Civil Servire appoint- anents are to be given to the Ger- mana The language tests will be
casier the That the use of the German lan-made
knowledge of guage is needlessly restricted in the Czech required Is to be gauged German areas,
merely by the actual needs of the the candidates cre applying. However,
uppoint-
That there is discrimination position for which against them in the appointments for Government services.
That the Agrarian Reform carried out soon after the war was largely against German land-
Its strategient importance und its great mineral wealth has never been minimised by the European Powers. Bismark recognised it. "Whoever is
1# master master of Bohemia Europe" he exclaimed. Herr Hitler was quick to appreciate the enorm
Importance of Czechoslovakia and in his book "Mein Kampf em- phasised that Germany before the directed war should have sought to extend owners. her colonies in the south instead of Against this the Czechoslovako concentrating on achieving mastery Government points out that it has
ment is inatte conditional on loyalty to the State.
aus
(4) Public bodies and organs in the German areas are ordered to all annes German translations
Oletal communications without
(5) The Government will allo special request, and free of charge. cate funds for the educational needs of the minority.
of the seas. France, whose chief given the Sudete Germans full pro- in both representation concern is to hold the balance of partional power in central Europe readily local and governments and Parlia-
(G) The Government promises to the beginning they investigate and remove shortcom entered into a mutual-assistance pact ment. From with the now State, and Husslo. have controlled all parish andings in local government practice
Which
Bicy followed municipal councils in different motives.
which damage the interests of the hnd
majority. Their right to national minorities,
educated in teach their children German schools by German teachers was immediately recognised for, all types of schools,
from
suit.
"For various reasons the German minority represents not only the out- standing internal problem of Czecho- slovakle, but one of her gravest international problems" declares Richard Freund in his book "Watch Czechoslovakia".
lic develops the theme by illus. trating how the German community Is the largest national minority in nay European state, except for the Ukrainians in Poland, and by em- phasising that the Germans are in poslion. strong geographical Most of them live in the compact areas along the frontiers of Austria and the German Relch, which now, of course, comprise the Creater Reich,
14
AL
Sudetens Disagree
To this agreement Herr Konrad Henlein and his party refused to Richard Freund points out that participate, declaring that the pro- solved by the for more than ten years the repre-hlem could only be sentatives of three Gerinan parties grant of autonomy to the German
community. the German Agrarians, the Chris- tian Socialist Party, and the Social Democrats have been members of the Government coalition and of the Cabinet. These "Activists" Ca supported until 1933 by 65 per cent. In 1935 they gained less than 40 electorate. of the German-speaking
CONRAD HENLEIN
Since the rise of the Henlein party, the problem of the Sudeten Ger mans has become more and more acule. In addition to their demands have Sudetens for autonomy, the stuged demonstrations. There have been innumerable "incidents" be- tween rival factions, and several umes during the past two years Europe has been alarmed by the de
During recent months velopments. tension has become more and more
strained. Since the Austrian unsch-
Juss the Sudetens have become more emphatle in their demands until to-
វថ day the position
fraught with serious consequences.
Henlein's Eight Demands
In April of this year, Herr Konrad Henlein, speaking at Carlsbad, out- Hined the following eight Sudeten demands:
I. Recognition of the principle: within the German areas, Geriqun officials.
status for
Sudeten 3. Recognition of the Germans as a legal body Incorpor ate.
2. Full equality of Germans and Czechs.
areas
4 and 5, Delermintion and legal recognition of the German within the State. Full self-govern- ment for the German areas.
for every 6. Legal protection citizen Kving outside the area of lis nationality.
7. Removal of the Injustlees in- licted In 1918 and reparation for Use damage caused thereby.
Abave, Dr. Hodza, the Premier, elegant Gigure in Czech Society, and (on the left) Gi. Foreigo Minister, Dr. Krota. Ho loves the violin,
2, Equality of status 011 the basis of national autonomy by the creation of Cantons in which the Germans will enjoy self-Govern-
ment.
Special sections for Canions
El central administrations which will be run by the nationals con- cerned. They will deal with the matters affecting their own nation- ally.
4 Creation of Cantons in which the Germans will enjoy self- Government.
5. It will be the national right of every citizens la be protected by special laws.
Assistance towards the indus- trial life of the German districts which have been most affected by the economic crisis, Including a tonn of 700 million crowns.
It un these issues that the pre- sent crisis exists, although there are other contributing causer, not the least being the increasing bad-feel- Ing expressed in Incidents which have occurred within recent weeks. The following chronological extracts from daily reports indicate how the problem has developed within re- cent weeks.
Emergency Session Convened
Prague; April 25.
Dr. Milan Hodza, Czecho-Slovakian Prime Minister, has convened an emergency session of the Cabinet. Anxiety is heightened as a result of reports that Czech frontier guards fred
on Polish balloon. Confirma- tion of this would mean Czecho-
face an Slovakia would
incident involving Poland, together with the newly simulated interest of the Pollsh minority.
Completing the durk picture, Hungary is showing interest in the future of the Hungarinn minority of 092,000 in Czecho-Slovakia. — Reuter.
Big Concessions Promised
Prague, April 20. A Foreign Ofled spokesman said that Dr. Man Hodza, the Czecho- Slovakian Prime Minister, had sent memorandum to Mr. Neville Chamberlain and M. Edouard Dala- Czecho- der, to the effect that Slovalda was preparing to offer the
"concessions Sudetens
for beyond yet volced." expectations United Press.
any
The philosophy of Herr Konrad and Henlein and his party is based largely on that of Ifitlerim. Hen- were icin wants a "healthy, hard-living youth, and insists upon the heroic life. He deprecates the develop. ment of individual personalities. per cent, of the German vote. Over rating it in the following terms: 8. Full liberty to profess Ger- 00 per cent. went to the new "Sude- "we know that the un-German par- man Volkstum and German Wel-
Britain and France Offer Aid tendeutsche Parte" led by Konrad tlamentarism and the un-German tanschauung (political philosophy).
London, April 29, Henlein. The new party refused to-party system which are splitting up
To these demands, the Czech.
result of As following
the complete co-operate and its attitutle caused a
Government Issued our peoples into unorganic secilons
Anglo-French agreement with ro- Chief German Complaints
serious deadlock. In 1036
proposals. the will break down. Our time is gov-
gard to the necessity of doing their Chlef German complaints are: Prime Minister askert Bu
1. Proportional employment. three erned by disolplined associations of
utmost to nesist In the peaceful That they
not enjoy full German members of the Cabinet to
Heimwehr, Hit- oficials, according to the nationality do
marses: Fascism,
settlement of the Czecho-Slovakian of the populace of citizenship on equal terms with submit a memorandum on the com- lerlam. Men want. to be led in a
(Continued on Page 11.) Czechs and Slovaks.
German
affected. plaints of the
minority, manly way."
the
of
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123
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Dresde
EN MOUNT
PRAGUE
BOHEMI
Plzen
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CZECHOSLOVAKIA
showing Racial Minorities
Germans (over 80%)
Magyars (over 80%)
(over 50%)
Poles ....
(over 50%)
GERMANY...
口
LA
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D
JJFHorrabin
Kosice
Uzhorod
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ATHI
RUTHENI
RUMANIA
ACROSS 1 A Prussian probably not an
oriental sailor (0).
4 This sort of life is supposed to be abstemlous, but wine is in- cluded (8).
0 Were a h this sweet would be
nothing (6),
10 Men in a doctrine make a home
(0).
12 Strong drink obviously (5).
13 "At the farm" acema an apt
anagram (0),
15 Card game (3).
>
10 "Thy children like plants round thy table" (Psalms) (3).
17 An associata of Punch (4). 21 Pale from
throw (4).
24 Colouring matter (5),
27 Part of the body or a hedgerow
sced
(3).
28 Fancy an evangelist appearing
in this bit of uniform (0).
31 No great portion (5).
32 Prosperous (8).
33 A rising about electrical force
(8):
34
simple way of hunting is to burst into song about fruit (8).
33 An African peasant (6).
DOWŃ
í One could buy many things hare but a Chinese might be disappointed (0).
2 This sort of person would cer- tainly be enough to upset a nice tour (8).
* "Tax scenes" (anag.) (0).
5. This is not hid in coverta (8);
8 Oriental rúlář · (B)
7 The prohibition of an ancient
elty (8).
# Describes the sort of tune the successful Asherman whistles on his way home? (6).
11 Senalde garment? (4).
14 Tird (3).
16 Would this sort of theatrical
painting seem sultable to hanging committee? (9).
19 Burn fuel to make fuel (8). 20 Hurry to send, off a
(8),
22 Colour (3):
Д
message
23 Leaders of the younger genera-
tion (4).
25 Scottish school (0).
20 Scottish writer (8).
29 Powerful Trish. Hövelist (5).
| 30 Halb s Jothat's joina-te).
YESTERDAY'S SOLUTION FTUL POA HABITUAL=0"
"BUB GAME
U ATSMBAT
dweis
MORAVI Ä` Brno
(Brunn)
TATRA
Bratislava
Vienna
150
"miles