1941-09-18 — Page 12

HONGKONG TELEGRAPH

September 18, 1941.

Thursday,

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At Singapore on 15th September- Suzette, only daughter of Mr & Mrs A. H. Compton of Hongkong, to Erie Burn of Singapore, son of late Mr E. J. Burn and Mrs Burn of London. The bride's parents occasion.

The

Hongkong Telegraph.

Thursday, Sept. 18, 1941.. Wyndham St., Hongkong Telephone: 26615

THE prex "Special to the Telegraph”

is used by the longkong Telegraph to indicate news which is strictly copplat calions Ordinanet. 1918, Buck news Hongkong on the date of publication by serve all rights and forbid republications,

under the provisions of the Talecommuni-

bears the indication “UP” la received in

the United Press Associations, who, re-

either wholly or in part without previous Arrangement.

Bones, former president of Czechoslovakia, addresses Czoch troops, somewhere in England.

WHEN HITLER'S SECRET ENVOYS VISITED BENES

Disclosures of Nazi proposals to Czechoslovakia which betrayed Germany's preparation for war

By O. H. BRANDON

disclosures. The substance of only would Germany have taken went to report the party's inde the broadcasts has been publish- immediate charge of Czechoslo- cision to Hitler at Nuremberg, ed in book form in the Czech vakia's internal politica, but it and all prospect of amicable ar- language, but is not yet avail- would have been a signal defeat rangement was blasted by Hit able in English.

for the Western Allies. and a ler's determination to destroy sign that that front was not Dr Benes by force. proof against Hitler's poison. Counter-Proposal

Two Envoys On

So that the world should not

Unanswered

the secret envoys and

A Trip To Prague HITLER would never have be aware of his attempt to per-

.been content merely to suade Dr Benes to become what, WHAT had happened to rule Germany. The idea of is now called a Quisling, Hitler world domination was always in insisted that no one should be their mission of October, 19367 his mind. As early as the informed of his envoys' visits When they left Prague they autumn of 1933 feelers were put and that any agreement that took to Hitler Dr Benes's coun- out from Berlin to discover might be reached should be one ter-proposals which suggested whether Czechoslovakia could between him and Dr Benes per- that Germany should confirm not be persuaded to sign in sonally. Not even the Czecho- the "Locarno Agreement" with Becret abllateral paet leaving slovak Government was to be Czechoslovakia of 11 years be Britain and her ally France and informed. Hitler on his side fore. Dr Benes received that those other allies, Russin and did not inform either his confirmation, upon which he the Little Entente, out of the Foreign Minister, von Neurath, further proposed an agreement, picture. Dr Benes, then For- or the German Ambassador in based on the Locarno Pact, eign Minister, replied that any Prague, Eisenlohr. negotiations must include all Stirring Up European countries and that

WHEN Dr Ben is, agreements must embrace Bri

which would recognise all Czechoslovakia's obligations to- wards other States. The text The Henleinists of this agreement was sent to President of Czecho- tain, France and their allies on were present on the slovakia, mentioned in a the one sitle and Germany on the

DR Benes agreed, with the Berlin. In January, 1937, the stipulation that both envoys informed Dr Benes that speech in London early this other.

Hitler had received their report his Prime Minister and Foreign favourably. The Dr Benes foresaw that Hit- Secretary should be informed.

months of year that he had three times refused a German offer of ler's object was to split allies The two envoys therefore had 1937 slipped by, but no answer

and possible allies so that he to see the Czechoslovak Foreign ever came to the proposals. a bilateral pact in the years might deal with each separate Minister themselves and inform The history of the envoys before the war, Goebbels ly, and realised that safety lay him of their mission. Dr Benes does not link up again with the seized on the news and at- only in collective security. Hit- according to Dr Drtina's history of events until a year tempted to make mischief ler started his campaign against statement--also told the repre- August, 1938, the signal was later. About the middle of the League of Nations, but al sentatives of the Czechoslovak in the Protectorate. The though Dr Benes warned both Constitution.

given for firing the powder ma Czech Press was ordered France and Britain of his pur-

gazine inside Czechoslovakia. Hitler, having come to the Frank, Henlein to distort the President's pose, it seemed that they still

and other words to suggest that he thought agreement with Hitler conclusion that he had failed to leaders had escaped across the entangle Dr Benes, tried next frontier to Germany. The en- had abused his position to was possible. prevent. "agreement

by the weight of his own per- voys' mission had failed; Hitler "be-

On Oct. 11, 1936, two confi sonality to impress and persu- had inid aside all thought of a tween Czechoslovakia and by Hitler, arrived in Prague to

dential envoys, sent personally ade him.

"peaceable" alternative. Germany and used the open negotiations with

Dr

The potential Fifth Column Rebuff From An Munich agreement to cloak Benes. During the course of represented by the Sudeten Ger- warlike preparations. them they returned to Berlin man (Henlein) party had at- Honest Man

and came once again to Prague, tempted to bring Dr Benes un- This drew an answer, and on Dec.

THESE are the events as 19, after having re- der their influence even before

Dr Drtina has 'des- an effective answer. Five ported to Hitler.

his election as President of cribed them. The Czechs now broadcast messages from

Dr Benes heard them with at- Czechoslovakia. In December, know something of Hitler's Britain to the Czech people their game. They offered agree. Minister, one of the Sudeten dual statesmen in his attempt tention, although he saw through 1935, while he was still Foreign, methods of approaching indivi- by Dr Prokop Drtina, the ment with Germany on condi- German members of Parliament to win them over to schemes of quest and defeat on the field. However, it is worth while to President's political secre- tion that the President revoked came to offer him the Henlein treachery. It is probable that look at some of the aspects that tary, revealed for the first his pact with France and Rus- party's support at the coming this was the pattern for some of on "certain condi- the negotiations in other coun- the arbitrators will have to con-time some of the secret his- sin. When Dr Benes asked elections sider when the Axis has been tory of Hitler's private must break off his alliance with lein and even with Hitler was been other secret agents vialt whether that meant that he tions." A meeting with Hen- tries. There have certainly broken and its Far East seg negotiations with neighbour those Powers they replied that proposed, ment_fitted back into its proper States-and-secret-prepara- this "would not really be neces

ing foreign statesmen. Some- Thus Henlein-admitted, as times they have failed; but, as place in the scheme of a demo- tions for conquest on the sary," but that, in the event of early as 1935, his party's active history shows, they have had cratic New Order.

grand scale as early as 1938, a conflict between, say, France collaboration with Hitler, and it some successes. China will expect the evacua-

It is not material which, would simply not fulfil her Benes did not trust his promises Europe's capitals and frontiers and Germany, Czechoslovakia becomes now obvious why Dr The Nazi undermining of tion of all Japanese forces from so far, has been disclosed to pledges. the occupied areas; She will

and did not accede to the party's was prepared with careful fore- the sight many years ahead. The proffered bargain.

failure to make Dr Benes an Hitler was infuriated. His agent in the business must have next move was to use the Hen- been for Hitler the first sign leinists to stir up internal con- that there are statesmen who

FUTURE PROBLEMS

THE terms of world peace. when they are arrived at, 'will fill many books. The Sino- Japanese hostilities cover a mul-

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TOTAL PROCEEDS IN AID OF

.:

BRITISH PRISONERS OF WAR FUND

vinces could not be of a per-

To Hitler

not yield Manchukua willingly the English-speaking world, This was the Fuehrer's first demands. He refused to but might subscribe to autonomy but the following is an out- appeal to perfidy. there if this was established line of the very surprising Triumph Denied under unbiased supervision. statements which Dr Benes Any "special position" held by felt compelled to make to Japan in the five northern pro- silence the malevolence of

DR Benes asked whether flict. Dr Benes found the will honour their pledges.

their offer would mean Sudeton German clamour grow- Dr Benes lost the game to manent character. With sin- Goebbels and to let in new that Czechoslovakia must resign ing and the party's influence Hitler. He lost, and left cerity on both sides and the light on the methods of Hit- from the League of Nations, be- challenged the tranquillity of the Czechoslovakia, but he did not kindly crasions of time these ler in laying his plans for cause what was suggested was State.

give up the fight for his coun- in direct contradiction to the In 1938 he made proposals for try's liberation. Covenant. Hitler's spokesmen an accommodation and at one He had seen Hitler in his true thought that this would not be moment it seemed as if in the colours and understood his necessary either, In the event Henicinist councils moderation plans. Though the Czechoslovak of Geneva making a decision might win the day. Those Army never had a chance to

to DR. Benes, dividing his unfavourable

Germany, among the malcontents who fight, it is worth recalling that time as he did between Czechoslovakin would, of course, feared war-and ita conse. Czechoslovakia under Dr Benes Prague and Geneva, had for refrain from carrying out the quences to the Sudeten Germans was the only democracy which many years had an excellent decision of the League, -hesitated; but Dr Frank (now was increasing its armed forces view behind the scenes of Cen- pr Benes had said Yes! Not the terrorisation of the Czechs) dent's foresight.

What a triumph for Hitler if von Neurath's aide-de-camp in and this was due to the Presi tral European politics; he lived

war.

areas would revert fully to China. The Japanese Navy would remain a threat to Asia Dr Benes' Close and Europe until 1 liberal

Collaborator government took the reins in Tokyo; and America completed her two-ocean navy. However, since Britain and America will not disarm, a balance of forces could be maintained under an armaments section of the League

which was at last to erupt over · the Continent.

of Nations which must be re- close to the simmering volcano surrected in a nobler and more perfect form. This section would also-have to supervise the numerous armed bases facing Europe from all sides.

Dr Drtina, who had been a member of Prof. T. G. Masaryk's Presidential bureau, became Dr

The small states of South Benes's gecretary on his election America have gotten along woll as President of Czechoslovakia apart from such comparatively at the beginning of 1986. After minor frictions as the Chaco Dr Benes resigned and left the war, the present Peru-Ecuador country Dr Drtina remained-for- border dispute etc., small mat- almost a year till, in December, ters that can be settled with 1980, his position as an import- little bloodshed and little effect ant link with the exiled Govern- on the world at large. There- ment became too dangerous. fore, there is no reason why He fled, with the Gestapo hot Czecho-Slovakia cannot; be re-

on his track, and is now ́ once- surrected, Croatia be given au- more Dr Benes's closest "col- tonomy, a Ukraine created and laborator. Manchukuo become a separato and friendly stato all under the auspices of a League of Nations that would not be a rabbit war-, ren of intrigue with the Powers www.shirking their duties,

Hongkong Benevolent Society Room-11, Ice House Street

The Sociafy's Room will' ba opan on MONDAYS & THURSDAYS from: 10 AM, to noon

Apart from the ravaging thir~| ty years war in the 17th Con- tury history shows that Germany was happy and not more back- ward than its neighbours when that name covered a host of little“ principalities and "mar- gravates;. It was when these were forged by fire and blood

Thus it comes about that he was instructed to make theso

into one nation that the terrible Teutonic efficiency ́ ́demanded sacrifices, first of the people,.. then of the neighbours and finally of the world. There may bo offelency in a unified direc- tion of such a conglomerate of states ns Germany was" a little more than a hundred years ago but the chief aim of the world is not efficiency, but peace, prosperity and contentment.

IDYLL

NEUTRAL COUNTRIES

FIFTH

COLU

By Billiken