Evening star., 1938-09-07
Have the Czechs Yielded?

devoid OF all reference to Czechosloyakia.
to force President Benes into sweeping
submission to sudeten German demands.
coercion OF an entirely different but
even deadlier nature seems to have got.
ten IN its work at Praha. Whatever the
actual cause, it looks as if the Czechs had
decided, reluctantly, 1t yielding to
Germany, in the face e monster Nazi
military mobilization, lies in Czecho-
slovakia's interest and is preferable to
assuming responsibility for a second
World War.
II the Nazis are thus able to chalk up
another bloodless victory in the course
OF their program to 0ermanize Central
Europe, there are already indications
that Czechoslovakia has made that DOS
sible because she was left in the lurch by
France and Great Britain, particularly
by the British. That theory is bolstered
by two developments Cd that the SEMI
official Reuters news agency ut London
was the first to reveal the details OF the
Czech governments ANAL offer to the
Sudetens, and ca that Viscount Runci-
man, on the eve Of the council Cabinet
session at Praha, counseled President
Benes to come to terms with the Nazis
while there was yet time. The way had
been paved for this eleventh-hour advice
by an unexpected about-face In the
British press Although Fleet Street had,
up to the recent week end, revealed 4
strong anti-German trend. 1t suddenly
switched to open pressure on Czecho-
slovakia. AS the Chamberlain govern
ment, throughout the European crisis,
has been able to have exactly the kind
of press it required from day to day,
without the imposition Of anything so
un-English as censorship. Praha is
forced to the conclusion that Prime Min
lister Chamberlain and Viscount Halifax
for reasons of their own determined to
goad Czechoslovakia into acceptance of
the Carlsbad program, or ninety per
S>AAo VA Aoo SASAs VAVoA kOlllUo. 4uc OlS.
illusioned Czechs believe that along with
the advice" London rendered was the
suggestion that in the event it was re-
1ected, they need not hope for or count.
on British assistance.
1t has not yet been disclosed lust how
President Benes and his cabinet will re-
act to what Praha is calling the "un-
acknowledged Intervention of the Cham
berlain government" For the moment
the Czechs are sitting tight on the con-
tention that while their "last- word" pro-
posals to the Sudetens include far
reaching concessions. they maintain all
essential conditions" BY that Praha
evidently means to suggest that Czecho-
sloVakia has not yet been completely sold
down the Nazi river. Benes remains ada
mant on the matter of refusing to aban-
don the Franco Russian alliances and
OF letting wide local autonomy for the
Sudetens include a much greater voice
in military policy. Such concessions
would ring the death knell of Czecho-
slovakian independence and the republic
created by Masaryk would automatic
ally succumb to the fate of Austria.
AT so fateful an hour it would be rash
to indulge in conclusions which events
may belle almost as soon as they are
drawn. But If it turn out that Czecho-
slovakia has crawled, the inclination will
be strong to suspect that Benes was be.
trayed by London and Paris That pos-
siollity conjures up recollections of an
other Afro French deal at the expense
of small nation fighting for its life-the
Hoare-Laval conspiracy, which sought
to hand over huge slice Of Ethiopia to
Mussolini as the price OF 1talo-Anglo-
French peace" Mr.. Chamberlain and
his satellites in Paris have made no
bones about their anxiety to avoid war
over Czechoslovakia. That in itself ia A
commendable purpose. But far less
praiseworthy would be a bargain with
Hitler to trade off Sudeten Csechoslo.
vakia for peace on condition that Ger
many renounce designs on British and
French colonial territory. Not only
would history condemn 50 malodorous A
dicker, but Britain and France would
court further blackmail at Nazi hands.
Chancellor Hitler disappointed a
breathlessly waiting world by a tame
opening address to the Nazi party con-
gress-a world jittering In combined
hope and fear Of some pronouncement of
German purposes in Czechoslovakia. Der
Fuehrer was silent as the Sphinx on that
score. Beyond glorifying the Austrian
annexation and boosting of the Reichs
ability to feed itself "for years to Come
a warning that another blockade of
World War pattern could never again
starve Germany into defeat-Hitler
launched no thunderbolt. But as the
Parteitag must suffer q full week of in
spilational oratory from him, he has
plenty of opportunity left to set the
smoking European powder barrel alisht.
The Maryland purge, at Denton. seems