Evening star., 1938-09-30
SEES DEMOCRACY
DOOMED|NEUROPE
Brother of Benes Pictures
CzeChosIovakia's Death
in Appeal Here.

The Save Czechoslovakia Commit
tee of Washington sought widespread
public support today after hearing
Senator Volta Benes, brother of the
Czechoslovak President, declare an
Inhalation of his country would doom
democracy in Europe
Senator Benes spoke in a voice
shaking with emotion to a capacity
audience of 5000 at the Rialto The
ater last night, concluding mass
meeting called by the committee to
protest depriving Czechoslovakia Of
territory essential to her national in
dependence.
When I arrived in Washington.
I received the news about what had
happened in Munich" he said, refer
ring to the agreement among Ger
many, Great Britain, France and
England for Germany to take over the
Sudeten areas Of Czechoslovakia
This is such a blow to democracy
in Europe that I do not believe it
can survive" Senator Benes added.
his gray hair and flowing mustache
framing a face visibly saddened by
the swift-moving events since he left
Prague recently for private visit
to this country.
Easier to Die"
TT would be easier to die than to
live in these troubled times" he cried.
God help us!"
I'VE did not deserve this defeat.
When the Versailles treaty was nego-
tiated We were willing to give Ger
many the areas inhabited by Germans,
but the allies did not permit it."
Then he recalled how for the last
20 years CZechoslovakia had been the
bulwark of democracy in Europe, re-
sisting alliances with the dictators and
standing by the League Of Nations.
To-day We were rewarded for our
faithfulness," he added I'VE made
a sacrifice which has no parallel in
history"
THE responsibility is not only on
the aggressor, but also partly on the
shoulders of those who made such hu-
initiation possible.
Il appeal TO you not to be misled
into believing that the issue in the
present struggle is a small one or does
not concern you. In this particular
situation we are crucified-our free
dom, our very life. Now, it is out fu-
ture at stake. Tomorrow, it will be the
future of other nations, for the ag-
gression will go on if not checked"
Heart Of Country Lost.
Senator Benes emphasized that COM
pliance with Germany's demands
would mean virtually complete an
nihiliation Of Czechoslovakia inde-
pendence. Her frontier mountain for
tiflca tions and most of her industrial
resources are in the area marked
for cession to Germany. leaving state
that must be subservient to the Nazis,
he said, exclaiming, I'VE are stripped
naked!"
At the outset of his address-after
remarking that ''it would be better If
I kept silent"-Senator Benes traced
the history of the Sudeten German
dispute, declaring that far from being
oppressed the Sudetens we're treated
better in Czechoslovakia than the Ger
man minorities in other European
countries, with participation in the
government and numerous oppor-
tunities for self-expression.
He stopped overnight at the Czecho-
slovak Legation, and planned to 70 to
New York today.
The mass meeting adopted resolu-
ton, presented by Dr. Frederick Brown
Harris, pastor of Foundry NJ E. Church
and chairman Of the Save Czechoslo-
vakia Committee, urging President
Roosevelt to repeat his appeal for "a
conference of all nations directly in
terested in the present controversy,
such meeting to be held Immediately
in some neutral spot in Europe"
Trade Retaliation Urged.
The resolution also called for a ban
on all forms Of traffic whatsoever be-
tween the United States and an ag-
gressor nation, and urged the admin
istration to continue to do its full
part to attain Just and permanent
peace for all the world"
Declaring that Hitler has sentenced
Czechoslovakia to death because it
stands in the way Of his dreams OF
empire, DR.. Harris said the issue war
ranted the hostility of all democra-
cies."
ITO be neutral with the next room
on fire Is suicidal" he continued. 1T
is a fatal delusion that safety can be