Evening star., 1938-07-03
BY RAYMOND LESLIE BUELL..

BY RAYMOND LESLIE BUELL..
PRAGUE.
slovakia has lived under the fear
Of attack from Germany. Hun
gary and Poland Although the
actual basis for such fears can never be
known elements in all three countries I'M
doubtedly would like to wipe Czechoslovakia
of the map. But the Czechs are a tough
the result Of its own military movements
and the strong diplomatic stand of Britain,
France. Russia and Rumania, Czechoslo-
vakia has surmounted its first serious crisis.
Apparently NaN leaders believed that. by
. terrific press campaign. diplomatic and
military mAneuvering and the encourage
ment Of the German and Slovak autonomy
exactly the opposite happened. As the
result Of this crisis, the unity of Czechs
and Slovaks has increased. BY her con-
duct during the last six weeks. Czecho-
slokavia has disproved the German con-
tention that she is an artificial state
In the past Czechoslovakia has made
. number OF mistakes. Perhaps the great
est was to assume the durability of the
Versailles settlement and to underestimate
the likelihood Of the revival Of German
power. Had Praha five years ago volun-
tarily made to hep German inhabitants the
concessions which she is offering today the
Henlein movement probably would have
made little progress
Strives to Repair Mistakes.
Now, however, the government is doing
its utmost to repair past mistakes Thus
it is proceeding to formulate a nationalities
statute which probably will create three
provincial diets and which the govern
ment will put into effect whether or not
1t proves satisfactory to the Henlein group
This statute is likely to have far-reaching
international repercussions for it will lead
minorities in Poland, Rumania, Hungary
and Germany to demand similar conces-
sions from their respective governments.
At time when q systematic effort Is
being made in certain quarters to under
mine the reputation of this country, it
should be emphasized that Czechoslovakia
is the one state in Central Europe which is
maintaining the democratic tradition To
have held three free elections in the midst
Of acute international tension is a remark
able testimony to the institutions of this
country. The government does not inter-
fere with the agitation either of the Henlein
party or OF the Slovak autonomists. 1t even
allows the leading ideolo9ist in the Henlein
party to continue to occupy his chair at
the German University of Phaha. In Maxi
Germany. such an opponent of the govern
ment would have been sent to q concentra-
ton camp, or even worse, long ago.
This is the one country in Central Eu-
rope in which the Peasant and the Social
Democratic parties participate in the gov
ernment. It has the highest standard of
living and has made the most economic
and social progress of any of the Central
European states. 1t has financed its re-
armament without foreign loans. and has
even lent money for this purpose to the
governments of Rumania and Yugoslavia.
German Attitude Natural
On the other hand. it is natural that
present-day Germany. which surrounds the
more important half of Czechoslovakia,
should concern itself with the treatment of
the 3S00,000 German inhabitants of this
country, and should insist that Czechoslo-
vakia adopt friendly" foreign policy. In
view OF Hitler's hatred OF Communism, IL
Is also natural that he should regard the
alliance between Praha and Moscow as a
ID Al ok khn ~ ~
though this alliance IS only for defensive
purposes.
These problems would not be difiicult to
solve If Germany could convince the outside
world that her demands upon Czechoslo-
vakia are sincere, and that she Is not max
ing use of the Sudeten question as a pretext
to establish control over the entire coun-
try. There is no doubt that. should Czecho-
slovakia become q satellite of Germany. the
rest of Central Europe would fall into her
lap, and Germany would become military
power even stronger than In 1914.
It Is difncult to believe in the sincerity OF
Germany when she abandons the Germans
in Italy and Poland at the very time when
she demands rights for the Germans In
| Csechoslovakia-a minority which. despite
| legitimate grievances Is already far better
| Oh than any other German minority in
Europe. It Is also difncult to take seriously
Hitler's claim - the protector Of German
minorities here 1T . time when the Nae
regime II applying systematic brutality Il
. Jewish, and German minority in Vienna
Finally, the case Of Germany has beer
weakened by the hysterical attacks Of TIN
Mad press upon this country during th'
| past month, which have irritated even som,
| Of the eudeten leaders.
Although Germany does not. Therefore