1938-09-14 — Page 19

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1938.

Historical Survey Of Czecho-Slovakia And Its Problems

HOW CRISIS DEVELOPED

Dramatic Intensification Of Political Problems During Last Five Months

CZECHO-SLOVAKIA, contre-point of the present European political crisis, has often been described as a "Child of the Versailles Treaty". The appellation is apt, although not historically accurate, The work of creating an independent state of Slav peoples started in carnest before the Great War, when the minority races of Bohemia and Moravia were suf- fering under the rule of the Habsburgs. The War merely gave a tremend- ous impetus to the movement and presented greater opportunities to its loaders.

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 coup brought to an end a Czech mutiny against subjection, This was drawn up by the leaders which had started in the eleventh century when Bohemia was forced of the three "Activist Parties, and which, in February to join the Holy Roman (German) Empire, and which continued formed the basis of a Government

proclamation through the centuries until finally the yoke of the Habsburgs was 1937, laid down new principles of also thrown off. The coup made possible the creation of Czecha minority policy. The proclamation

covers six main points: slovakia, a creation later substantiated by the Treaty of Versailles.

(1) In the placing of Govern- The principal effect of the peace treaties was to give a favourable

ment contracts, local enterprise and delimitation of the Czechoslovak frontiers. The historical domin-focal workers shall have first con- ions of the Bohemian Crown, as far as they had still been with sideration. Austria-Hungary, were restored; Slovakia and Carpathian-Ruthenia (2) Social welfare and health were taken from Hungary and joined to the new State. Two dis-services, especially child relief. shall tricts of Lower Austria and one small area of Germany were added be administered by Germans wher-

ever they form a majority, for reasons of communications. Thus did the Czechoslovakia come into being.

That'

new State of

discrimination

(3) Merr Civil Service appoint- ments are to be given to the Ger- man: The language tests will be ni Its strategient importance and its That the use of the Cermen lan-made easier; the knowledge great mineral wealth has never been guage is needlessly restricted in the Czech required is to be goured ininimised by the European Powers. | German areas,

merely by the actual needs of the Bismark recognised it. "Whoever is

position for which the candidates there is master of Bohemla

of is master

applying. However, appoint- Europe" he exclaimed. Herr Hitler "gainst them in the appointments

ment is made conditional on loyally That the Agrarian Reform carried to the State. out soon after, the war was largely

against directed owners.

Asinst

for Government services,

German

Innd-

was quick to appreciate the enorm 41129 importance of Czechoslovakia and in his book "Mein Kampf" em- phasised that Germany before the war should have sought to extend her colonies in the south instead of

this the Czechoslovaka concentrating on achieving mastery Government points out that it has both

representation

in

are

(4) Publie bodies and organs in the German areas are ordered to annex German translations 10 all ocial communications without

special request, and free of charge. (b) The Government will allo- cale funds for the educational needs of the minority.

(0) The Government promises to

of the seas. France, whose chief given the Sudele Germans full pro- concern is to hold the balance of portional power in central Europe readily local and governments and Parlia- entered into a mutual-assistance pactment. From the beginning they investigate and remove shortcom- with the new State, and Russia. have controlled all parish and from diferent motives, followed municipal councils in which they had majority. Their right to

11 teach their children educated in German schools by German teachers was immediately recognised for all types of schools.

suit.

"For various reasons the German minority represents not only the out- standing Internal problem of Czecho

her slovakia, but one of

Kravest international problems" declores Richard Freund in his book "Watch Czechoslovakia".

Ings in local government practice which damage the interests of the national minorities.

Sudetens Disagree

To this agreement Herr Konrad Henteln 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-blem could only be sentatives of three German parties grant of autonomy to the German --the German Agrarians, the Chris- community, Linn Socialist Purty, and the Socin The philosophy of Herr Konrad Democrats have been members of and Henlein and his party is based the Government coalition and of the largely on that of Hitlerim. Hen- Cabinet.

were fein wants a "healthy, hard-living These "Activists"

He develops the theme by illus trating how the German community is the largest national minority in any European state, except for the Ukrainians in Poland, and by em supported until 1833 by 65 per cent, youth, and insists upon the heroie In 1835 they gained less than 40 ife. He deprecates the develop- of the German-speaking electorate. ment of individual personalities.

phasising that the Germans are in strong geographical position. Most of the live in the compact areas along the frontiers of Austria and the German fieich, which now, of course. comprise the Greater Reich.

Chief German Complaints Chief German complaints are: That they do not enjoy full

equal terms citizenship on Czechs and Slovaks.

MER

with

per cent of the German vote Over rating it in the following terms: GO 60 per cent, went to the new "Sude- "We know that the un-German par- tendeutsche Partel" led by Konrad Hamentarism and the un-German The new party refused to- party system which are splitting up Benlein.

our peoples into unorganic sections co-operate and its attitude caused a serious deadlock. In 1920 the will break down. Our time is gov- Prime Minister usked the three,erned by disciplined associations of German members of the Cabinet to muses: Fascism, Heimwehr. Hit- submit a memorandum on the com- lerism. Men want to be led in a plaints of the German minority, manly way.

su

Plzen Pilsen

PRAGUE- EM I A.

Budweis

MORAVIA Brno

(Brunn)

Bratislava

Vierina

CONRAD HENLEIN

Above, Dr. Hodza, the Premier, elegant figure in Czech Society, and (on tho left)

Foreign Minister, Dr. Krofts. Ha loves the vialin.

2. Equality of status on the basis of national autonomy by the creation of Cantons in which the Germans ment.

will enjoy self-Govern-

3. Special sections for Cunions in all central administrations which will be run by the nationals con- cerned. They will den! with the matters affecting their own nation- ality.

4. Creation of Cantons in which the Germans w4}} enjoy self-

Government.

5. It will be the national right of every citizens to be protected by special laws,

6. Assistance towards the indus-. trial life of the German districts which have been most affected by the economic crisis, including a loan of 700 million crowns.

*

Since the rise of the Henlein' party, the problem of the Sudeten Ger- It is on these issues that the pre- mans has become more and more sent crisis exists, although there are neute. In addition to their demands other contributing causes, not the for autonomy, the Sudetens have least being the increasing bad-feel- stayed demonstrations. There have ing expressed in incidents which been innumerable "incidents" have occurred within recent weeks.

be- tween rival factions, and several The following chronological extracts times during the past, Iwo years from daily reports indicate how the Europe has been alarmed by the de- problem has developed within re- velopments. During recent months cent weeks. tension has become more and more strained. Since the Austrian ansch- luss the Sudetens have become more emphatic in their demands until to- day the position is fraught with serlous consequences.

Henlein's Eight Demands

In April of this year, Herr Konrad Henlein, speaking at Carlsbad, out- lined the following cight Sudeten demands:

1. Recognition of the principle: within the German areas, German officials.

2. Full equality of status for Germans and Czechs.

3. Recognition of the Sudeten Germans as a legal body incorpor- ate.

4 and 5. Determintion and legal recognition of the German areas within the State. Full self-govern- ment for the German areas. for 8. Legal protection

every citizen living outside the area of his nationality.

i

Emergency Session Convened

Prague, April 25.

Dr. Milan Hodza, Czecho-Slovakian Prime Minister, has convened (12) emergency session of the Cabinet, Anxiety is heightened as a result of reports that Czech frontier guards fred on a Polish balloon. Confirma- tion of this would mean Czecho- Slovakia would face

Incident Involving Polarid, together with the Polish minority. newly simulated interest of the

an

Completing the dark picture, Hungary is showing Interest in the future of the Hungarian minority of 502,000 in Czecho-Slovakia.. Reuter.

Big Concessions Promised

Prague, April 20.

A Foreign Office spokesman said that Dr. Milan Hodza, the Czecho- Slovakian Prime Minister, had sent + memorandum to Mr. Neville Chamberlain and M. Edouard Dola-

effect dier, to the

that Czecha- 7. Removal of the injustices in- Slovakia was preparing to offer the Aicted in 1918 and reparation for Sudetens "concessions far beyond the damage caused thereby,

any expectations yel voiced."---- 8. Full liberty to profess Ger-United Press. man Volkstu and German

Britain and France Offer Aid tanschauung (political philosophy).

London, April 29. these demands. the Czech To

the

As result of following

the complete Government issued

Anglo-French agreement with re- proposals.

ofgard to the necessity of doing their 1. Proportional employment

utmost to assist in the peaceful officinis, according to the nationality

settlement of the Czecho-Slovaklan of the populace

the

(Continued on Page 11.) affected,

of

Wel-

areas

#

CZECHOSLOVAKIA

showing Racial Minorities

Germans (over 80%)

วง

(over 50%)

GERMANY...

Magyars (over 80%)

(over 50%)

Poles ....

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