Evening star., 1937-03-14

VelACAl ociiodSly ~ lISI-IIle fCelCQ
was still weak the Little Entente was
holding together and France was still
the dominating power in Europe. What
chance had this minority group, said
the Czech leaders, to cause real en-
barrassment to the government? But
as Hitlers power grew, French hegem-
ony declined and the Little Entente
showed itself a loose organization the
government became worried. A num-
Der of Germans were given special ad-
vantageS; the Czech government
started talking about cultural privileges
expanding instruction in the Ger
man language, subsidizing German
theaters, etc.
In the meantime three German po-
lltlcal parties were taken into the fold
OF the Czechoslovak government after
the 1895 election. These were the Ger
man Agrarians, the German Christian
Socialists and the German Social
Democrats. Their leaders were given
cabinet Jobs and their members en-
Joyed patronage advantages The rap
prochement with these groups had
started in 1926, but it took a definite
shape only two years ago The leader
OF the great mass of Germans, Konrad
Henlein, remained outside Not only
did he refuse to join the government,
but he also rejected the suggestion
that he run for Parliament.
Blind Follow the Blind.
The pro-Zech parties represent
barely Is per cent of the German
minorities The remaining rs per
cent-some 2.500,000 Germans-follow
Henlein, who in turn follows blindly
his Berlin masters-Hitler, Goebbels,
etc. His political activities are direct
ed from Berlin. Last Summer he vis-
tied the Reich's capital as a guest Of
the ReichSfuehrer and spent 10 days
mapping out the future attitude of the
Germans in CZechoslovakia. Three
men belonging to his party were ap-
pointed by Hitler as members of the
German Reichstag, although they
were Czechoslovak citizens.
At present Henlein spends most Of
his time touring Bohemia, ENCOURAGING
among his followers a Gandhi-like re-
SlStance to the advances of the
Czechs and urging them to wait for
the day when their liberators from
across the border set them free.
Henlein processes to have pacific in
tentlons. In conversations with for
eign diplomats and travellers he saws
That he believes in an amicsble ar
rangement with the Czech government
when that government begins to rec
ognize in full the rights of the minori-
ties. But, he adds, his situation is
becoming increasingly difficult be-
cause of the impatience shown by the
younger elements among the oppressed
Germans, who want action and not
words.
New Compromise Made.
Last month a new compromise was
reached between the Hodza admins
tration and the pro- Czech Germans.
The compromise once more pertains
principally to intellectual and eco
nomic advantages. Henlein refused
to have anything to do with it, while
Berlin expressed its disapproval.
There is no possibility of settling
the German minorities question, says
Henleln, spokesman of Berlin. un-
less the Czechoslovak constitution Is
changed to give the minorities an
autonomous status like that which
exists in Switzerland Henlein is ad-
vocating cantonal state, which Pres
ldent Edward Benes and Premier
Milan Hodza say is impossible be-
cause the Germans are not concen-
trated in one geographic region, but
are spread over the length of the
Czechoslovak border on a compara-
lively narrow strip of land.
An outburst of the minorities is
expected by some observers in the
course of this Summer. The Czecho-
slovak government scents the danger
and is taking every conceivable pre-
caution. The German frontier is be-
ing rapidly fortified. At the present
moment there are three German Army
corps stationed on that border; the
9th, with headquarters in Breslau;
the 7th, with headquarters in Dresden,
and the 4th, with headquarters in
Munich.
The Czechoslovak forces are much
smaller, They place their hopes for
temporary resistance in fortifica-
tions and in the Western powers.
They don't trust Hitler. All the ap-
proaches made for a commercial
agreement and non-aggression pact
have been turned down cold by Ber-
lin. The answer of the German for
elgn office to all the Czech advances
has been: Give the Germans a COM
plete autonomy and drop your alliance
with the Soviets. Until you fulfill
these conditions there is no use talk
ing to us.
So accustomed have the Czechoslo-
vaks become to the idea of possible
war that they comment with smile:
well, war seems to be coming, but
we can no longer foretell where, why
and between whom; all we know is
that it will start on a Saturday."
According to observers who have re-
Gently returned from that tinder-box
OF Europe, there is little likelihood
that Germany will actually attack
Czechoslovakia. In all probability the
fire will start with the outbreak of a
revolution of the German minorities.
Such an outbreak will have to be sup
pressed by force. Hitler, at first, will
declare his neutrality, but will do
nothing to prevent Germans in Sax
ony and Bavaria crossing the border
to support their brethren. Then the
outcries of "Bolshevism in Central
Europe" Soviet intrigues In Czecho-
slovakia," will become louder and
louder. Their reverberations over the
whole of the European continent are
impossible to predict.
(Copyright, 1877