1938-06-28 — Page 18

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MAGINE a boot-shaped piece of land, about the size of England and half of Wales, 11.3 populous Greater London plus a couple of Birminghams and Glasgows.

1.3

Set that in the heart of Europe, draw its frontiers so that at no point in the land aro you more than two hours car- d've from a 'border.

That is Czechoslovakia, this morning's sounding board of pence and war.

It is just twenty years old, this little Europe in itself: created by the Peace Treaties at the break-up of the Austro- Hungarian monarchy.

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and they are frequently glad to advocate measures which, though they are not exactly popular, appear to promise some real good. They thus earn for themselves, on occasions, a re- pulation for fearlessness and advanced thought. But unless these newspapers are actually influencing the public mind for what they think is beneficial, and the public is going to have an opportunity to use the ballot

now State.

★

Some 1,700,000 Czechs, 3,250,000 Austro-dermans, 2,000,000 Slovaks, 30,000 Hungarians, 000,000 Tusslans, 80,000 Poles and 200,000

wa are its population. Let us look at the 3,250,000 Austro-Germans. round whom

wirls the current turbulence.

They Arc called Sudeten Germans because they are conccn- trated mostly on the strip of ter- ritory by the Sudetes Mountains on the Czech-German frontier of North Boliemla.

Before 1914 they were part of the Austriun Empire. Their fore- fathers populated Bohemia as an Independent State and when it formed part of the Holy Roman German Empire.

B

But they have never been section of the German Reich. For 700 years the frontier between Germany and Bohemia has corre- sponded to the present one.

Budetenland is an abomaly, too, In the German districts of Bohemia there are large numbers of Czechs In round Oguren, 2,000,000 Ger- mans to 400,000 Czechs.

* ☆

And stuce they have Inter- mingled. It is a practical impossi- billy to draw a line of demarca- tion in the manner suggested by advocates of the idea that Sude- tenlund should become an auto- nomous province.

It has been tried-by the Ger- MILDS

Dí present-day Czecha- slovakia when, in the nineteenth century, they were ruled by the Austrian monarchy. Those attempts falled; and to-day the ulation is still further broken

The Czechoslovakian State could

Centre of

the Trouble

A Czech machine-gunner watches near the German frontier

not have been produced without something very like its present boundaries. And these boundaries are, in fact, the one example in post-war map-making of frontiers scientifically drawn by experts without political interference.

What then? The Sudeten Germans still have their legitimate grievances.

They say that for years they have been refused participation in fing Government offices, postal services and railways. They say that when new building plans-for schools, for instance-are pus in hand, the Czechs come first, the Sudeten Germans last.

But the greater part of their troubles are the result of post-war economics,

An Important allee of Czechoslo- vaklu's industries is concentrated in the German-speaking districts.

Tariffs born of

Praca Treaties hit them frst of all. The growth of protection Impoverished them still further, And Germany's

Own

policy of self-sumelency helped along the crippling process, Czech exports to Germany in 1929 totalled 20 per cent. of the whole. By 1936 they were down to 14 per cent.

★

*

Lhey

So when Czechoslovakia's unem- ployment Agures soared soared highest in Sudetenland. When the factories began to alow down and to close down, the Ger- man-speaking districts were worst

hit.

Sudetenland was a ready-made breeding ground for discontent.

The Czechoslovakian Govern- ment has an answer to the Sudeten criticisms. It claims that cach ractal group has its own political parties and representation in the national Parliament on a propor- tlonate basis,

Germans have majorities on the local councils in their own districts. Their own newspapers plead their

a corrective, criticism of British MARIE WALEWSKA'S SON

Government policies are of little

avail. Indeed, they may be very Art it, as stated in a recent he fled to France to escape the hated French citizen. After seeing foreign article Marie Walewska vanished necessity. Once he was there, the service in Algeria, he settled down harmful. If one admits of the banishment to St. Helena, her son him back.

into obscurity after Napoleon's French Authorities refused to send in Paris as a Journalist and dramatist. value of prestige, particularly in and his lived to play a notable part

And quite à good dramatist he must the Far East, one will recognise in European affairs.

In 1830, when Alexandre was 20, have been, for he had the honour of the Fales revolted, and with the aid collaborating in one play with Dumas the necessity of doing nothing restoration of the Bourbon kings, smuggled into Poland, took a lending

After the fall of Napoleon and the of the French Government, he was the Elder. to damage it. To deny, as does. Marie took the Alexandre part in the insurrection, and even recognised, he was invited to join As his inherited ability became a writer in a contemporary, that

Florian home to Poland to be educat- made a journey to London on behalf the French Diplomatic Service, and because Great Britain is build-passionate patriotism, he lived under however, the revolt was crushed, and with delicate missions to Egypt and ed. There, imbued with his mother's of the rebels. In spite of all efforts, was entrusted by the Government ing bonibers she has sacrificed Russian domination until he was 18, young Poland sank unce more into Argentins. the right to claim that her armra- time, he was of age to be conseripled Collaboration with Dumas Second Republle, with Alexandre's

when, according to the Inw of the subjection.

Then came the proclamation of the ments are only for defence will Into the Russian Army. The thought seem to many logical people anraged every instinct of the youth, and returned to France and became a was, as might have been expected, of serving his country's enemies out- Alexandre, bitterly disappointed, The rise of Marie Walewska's son cousin, Loula-Napoleon, us President. unreasonable accusation. Grant-

ed that the use of a bomber:

own

any

That

The great majority of British GRIN AND BEAR people do not want war. statement surely will not be

IT

By Lichty

in war is something the world would do well to outlaw for all time, what is to be the attitude of a power, anxious to preserve challenged. The recollection of itself, when it aces potential the worst catastrophe which the enemles building these weapons.

world has ever known is still too Bombers can he used as offen-fresh; and were it at a sufficient sive weapons, truly, and offence distance in time to have lost its is their first function, perhaps. power to awaken horror and On the other hand they are fear, there are the present-day essential defensive weapons, for examples of war's-conscienccicss unless one possesses them an

destructiveness and utter futili- enemy would be

ty to keep all mature and relatively free behind his front balanced people antagonistic t line of action from

a policy which supports hostili- interference from his antagonist.pacifist would never fight. He ties except in self-defence. The Bombers are vital in a campaign would die for his principles; but for the destruction of an ho would not raise his hand to army's communications, am-defend his home, his people and munition dumps, troop concen-his race. Most men, however, rations, aerodromes and muni- would seize whatever weapon tions factories. The accusation they could put their hands to in that they are built with a view as they would fight any intruder order to repulse an invador, just to raining death upon civilians upon the freedom and happiness and open towns is an injustice, of their homes. The bomber is. But even if they were it. is stilins much a weapon of defence as no proof that a nation is pre-it is a weapon of aggression. paring for an offensive war-Possession of such weapons does which, according to our under-brigands and murderers. H not make the British a race of Standing,

of simply shows an understanding aggression.

of realities.

menuis ก

war

#/0

Empo. 1896 by Dubled Postare Bradforta, Kan

when I hired you I wanted a mo n to say 'yes'—not just "uh huh'l!!

cause in all areas where they form more than a Bfth of the popula- tion.

Ninety-four por cont. of the chlidren go to exclusively German' schools.

Tho unfair distribution of Government posts is being recti- ned. And now, say the Czechs, minorites are invited freely to onter negotiations for a nationall- tien statute to determine their fature status.

So far that invitation is refused. Fince-nezed Konrad Henlein, local Nazi No. 1, domands for his Budetons (1) territorial autonomy: (2) recognition of Nazlam within German districts; (3) an end to the alliance with Russin,

The Czech Government refuses to agree to (1) on the grounds that it is an administrative and geographical impossibility. It says that agreement to (2) would mean the annihilation of the democratic sretions of the population in those distrbits. And (3) it will never tolorate.

*

To

sive way on these three points, it says, would mean the end of Czechoslovakia as an indepen- dent State.

For Budetenland is the front door to Germany; and Liberal- minded Czechs will never willingly hand over the key to a totalitarian neighbour.

So what? So the Czechs an- nounce that they will go a long way on the road to a reasonable Bettlement; but that they will not submit to belog shoved Into the hedge,

And if Hitler chose to fight he would find no picnic like the march on Austria.

Czechoslovakia has a land army of 200,000 men, highly trained and well equipped. It could mobilise 2,000,000 effectives very quickly.

In its air force are 500 machines and 8,500 men'000 of them officers. And for every 20 soldier there is one Bren gun, the most patent light machine-gun in the world.

Last autumn fortifications on the German frontier were completed, and now the same work in being hurried on along the Austrian border.

*

Concrete trenches with under- ground systents of communication are hidden in the woods. In the mountains which form a natural barrier to the North passes have been transformed into steel death- traps.

In those passes and along the German border £20,000,000 has been spent on defences which are the admiration of the French en- gineers who bulit the Maginot Line. In the Sudetenland empty fac- tories have been transformed into barracks for loyal troops. On the frontier roads great cement blocks are massed behind steel gates-in case of accident.

But Czechoslovakia has 1.800 miles of frontier to defend-all but 100 miles or so against potential enciales.

By Hitler alone invasion might be begun simultaneously from half-a-dozen points: Munich, Dresden. Breslau, Nuremberg, Linz, Vienna.

If the Fuehrer wanted to try once more his "attaque brusquéi he has enough dispatch points for his mechanised forces. And in Munich the biggest base is always ready.

rapid. Louis-Napoleon enlisted him on, further diplomatic missions to Florence, Naples, and London. So well did Alexandre nequit himself that when Louis-Napoleon became Nupoleon III of France he, appointed Walewska Foreign Minister a role in which he excrelsed enormous in- fluence on France's vigorous foreign polley.

Dual Loyalty

was

After the Crimean War I Walewska who represented France

It

at the signing of the Peace Covenant. was Walewsku who encouraged Napoleon to embark on Whe which did much to free Italy from Austrian domination.

Wir

Only in one undertaking did he fall the undertaking closest to his. heart. When in 1803, the, Poles once more rovolted against the tyrant Russians, all Alexandre's pleadings fulled to persuade his king to declare war against Russia on her behalf. It was a biller blow. But, oven while deploring its necessity, his father's son could not but admit the fully of such a step.

great

Thus did the son of the Napoleon play his part in the Second Empire, working on behalf of his native land and the country of his adoption in a manner that would have planned both his father and his. mother. When ho died, all Franco mourned a great patriot. And Pa- land know so had lost a powerful friend.

D. N

▸