Evening star., 1938-09-29
British Leader Most Dramatic Speech Ceer Peace

Sudeten Germans would mper1l the
interests of Czechcslovakia herself
and all hopes of peace.
The Czechoslovak government were
asked to agree Immediately to direct
the transfer to the Reich of areas
inhabited by population more than
so per cent German.
The Czechoslovak government were
informed that to meet their natural
desire for their security in the future.
his majesty's government would be
prepared as contribution to the paci-
fication Of Europe to join in an inter-
national guarantee in regard to new
boundaries of the Czechoslovak state
against unprovoked aggression.
Distinction in Pacts.
Such a guarantee would safeguard
the independence of Czechoslovakia by
substituting general guarantee
against unprovoked aggression in
place Of the existing treaties with
France and Russia, which involved
reciprocal obligations of a military
character.
In agreeing to that guarantee his
majesty's government were accepting
a completely new commitment. We
were not previously bound by any OBJ
legations towards Czechoslovakia other
than those involved by the Covenant
of the League.
(The Prime Minister then re.
viewed the further progress Of
negotiations. pointing out that the
British and French ministers in
Prague were instructed to tell the
Czechoslovak government there was
no hope of new proposals.)
This they did Immediately and un.
conditionally September 2l. Our min.
lster In Prague was instructed to in
form the Czechoslovak government,
September % that His Majesty's gov
ernment were profoundly conscious of
the immense sacrifice which the
Czechoslovak government had agreed
to and the immense public spirit
which they had shown.
Sympathy for Czechs Arises,
These proposals had been put for.
ward in the hope of averting general
disaster and saving Czechoslovakia
from invasion.
Her willingness to undertake them
won a measure of sympathy which
nothing else could have aroused.
The Czechoslovak government re.
signed and government of national
concentration under Gen. Syrovy was
constituted, but it was emphasized that
this government was not a military
dictatorship and that It had accepted
the Anglo-FrencE proposals.
We had hoped that the immediate
problem would not be complicated
at this juncture by the claims pressed
by Poland and Hungary. They had,
however, demanded similar treatment
OF their minorities as were accorded
German minorities.
The governments Of Poland and
Hungary have made representations
to his majesty's government and we
have replied that we take note Of
those representations, but that we are
at present concentrating our efforts
on the Sudeten problem, on the solu-
ton of which the issue OF war or
peace in Europe depends. While ap-
preciating their position, his maiesty's
government hoped these two govern
ments would do nothing to add to
the present delicate situation.
Poles Moved Troops.
The Polish government had ex-
pressed considerable dissatisfaction
and troop movements had taken place
in the direction of Teschen.
The Hungarian government had
been encouraged by conversations of
the regent with Field Marshal Goer-
ing and conversations Of the Hun
garian Prime Minister and chief Of
staff at Berchtesgaden. and mobiliza-
ton measures had been taken by the
Army.
On September %, I went back to
Germany to Bad-Godesberg- on Rhine,
where the chancellor had appointed q
place as being more con-
venient for me.
Once again I had a warm welcome
in the streets of villages through
which I passed, which demonstrated
to me the desire of the German people
for peace, and on the afternoon Of
my arrival had a second meeting
with the chancellor.
Transfer Plans Made.
During my stay in London, the gov
ernment had worked out with the
French government arrangements for
effecting the transfer of territory pro-
posed, also for the delimitation of the
final frontier.
I explained these to Herr Hitler,
who was not previously aware of them,
and also told him about the pro-