Evening star., 1938-09-21
CZECHS BOW TO HrTLER'S PEACE TERMS
RATHER WAR! ANGRY PRAGUE MODS CRY
WE WANT DICTATORSHIP SHOTJT
NOISY CROWDS FILLING STREETS
Russians Ready to
Lend Aid, Says
LitvinOff.
BY the Associated Press.

GENEVA, Sept. 2l.-Maxim Litvin-
of, Soviet Russia's foreign commissar,
today accused France and Great
Britain Of capitulating to Adolf Hit
ler's demands and disclosed they had
ignored Russia's offer Of military help
to protect Czechoslovakia.
The foreign commissar, in a scath-
ing denunciation Of League of Nations
powers, said Russia stood ready to
back up any collective action In de-
tense Of Czechoslovakia with arms and
men.
In what he left unsaid, however,
assembly delegates saw a statement
that unless France fights for Czecho-
slavia under the terms Of the French
Czechoslovak agreement Soviet Russia
would do nothing to help Prague.
League Plea Considered.
The speech led Czechoslovaks to con-
slider an appeal to the League. even
before a German attack which they
feared would take place.
1t gave open support for immediate
appeal under Article XII of the League
covenant, which, under the heading,
Any War or Threat Of War;" says the
League shall take any action that
may be deemed wise and effectuar' to
safeguard peace.
The Czechoslovaks, however, did not
entertain much hope of effective
League action so long as France and
Britain maintain their present attitude.
Because Ltvinoff's speech disclosed
steps leading up to the present French
British plan, including Russia's offer
OF military support, Russians and
Czechoslovaks hoped it would spread
dissatisfaction with the proposal to
the extent that the two governments
might be forced to abandon it.
He accused Britain and France Of
avoiding q "problematical war today
In return for q certain and large
scale war tomorrow"
Price Held Too High.
Russia's spokesman told the League
Of Nations Assembly that the price
Britain and France were considering
paying to prevent war over Czecho-
slovakia was satisfying the appetites
Of Unsuitable aggressors by the de-
struction and mutilation Of sovereign
states"
He contended that the League OF
Nations is strong enough to stop ag-
gression by collective action" declar-
ing that "aggressor states" still are
weaker than possible block Of peace
full states.
Litvinof declared fatty:
Our war department is ready i'm
mediately to participate In conference
with representatives Of the French and
Czechoslovak war departments in
order to discuss measures appropriate
to the moment"
Independently Of this, we consider
it desirable that the question be raised
at the League Of Nations If only as
yet under Article IL, with the object
of first mobilizing public opinion and
secondly of ascertaining the position
Of other nations whose passive aic
might be extremely valuable"
France Informed Of Stand.
He said this Russian stand wa:
framed and sent to the Czechosloval
government two days ago and te
France few days before the League
Assembly began to deliberate on Sep
tember -.
Litvinof said that at that time hls
government added:
I'VE intend to fulfill our engagement
under our treaty with Czechoslovakia
and together with France to give as
sistance to Czechoslovakia by means
open to U.s."
Litvinoff concluded that Russia hae
no intention of abandoning the prin.
ciples of the covenant Of the League
nor Of the BRAND Kellopp pact ane
calls upon other governments like
wise to return to this path"