Evening star., 1938-03-06
The Masaryk Spirit.

1t is signal coincidence that the
newly organized Masaryk Institute-an
association of Americans formed to keep
alive the memory of Thomas Garrigue
Masaryk as a democratic humanitarian
statesman, and to foster closer cultural
relations between Czechoslovakia and
the United States-should have hit upon
the current week end for commemorative
ceremonies at Washington. Both the
date and the place are of special sig
nificance. March marks the eighty
eighth anniversary of the birth of the
George Washington of Czechoslovakia,"
and our National Capital is the place
where DR.. Masaryk. though an exile from
his native soil, wrote its declaration of
independence in 1918. Under that
charter, though he was still an absentee,
he was proclaimed the young republics
first President.
The Americans who are honoring
Masaryk's memory on Monday will do
so in setting of peculiar appropriate
ness. There will be ringing in their
ears, as in the ears of liberty loving
peoples throughout dictator -menaced
universe, the stirring defiance of Ger
many uttered in the CZechoslovak Par
lament on Friday by Premier Milan
Hodza. Never since the totalitarian
tyrannies cast their blighting shadow
across the democratic horizon in Europe
has the gauntlet been thrown down to
them in so fortnight fashion. AS all
the world knows, the German Nazis
thirst to bring under their territorial
and political domination the 100000
Czechoslovak citizens of Teutonic origin
who inhabit the northern, or Sudeten,
region of Masaryk's land. Ever since
the dawn of Hitlerism these minority
elements have been propagandized and
organized in the most brazen manner
to demand either "Germanic autonomy
within Czechoslovakia or outright an
nexation to the Reich. Agitation has
been conducted with undisguised sup
port from Berlin, which never has left
any doubt of its intention by hook or by
crook to relieve "our national comrades"
from the yoke of oppression" With
brutal turbulence, unsurpassed by any
previous Nazi bombast, Air Marshal
Goering openly proclaimed only last
week that one of the primary purposes
OF the Nazi sky armada is to Hberate the
lost tribes like the Sudeten Germans,
and that when it releases it's death-deal-
ing bombs to that end, utter ruthless
ness" will be the rule.
Premier Hodza is obviously neither
impressed nor terrified by these threats
to Czechoslovakia's independence. He
told madly cheering Chamber of Dep
uties at Prague that the nations from
tiers are absolutely untouchable" To
all concerned-and their address, for the
most part, is Berlin-he hurled the
warning that the people of Masaryk and
Benes are determined to the utmost to
defend their sovereignty, their boun-
daries and their liberty. Czechoslovakia
Is prepared TO reach an understanding
with Germany, but only on the basis of
equality. There can be no dictation of
Pragues course, no Austrianization, no
imperious demand for inclusion of Ger
manic Nazis in Czechoslovak cabinet,
a la Chancellor Schuschniggs enforced
performance at Vienna. And, finally,
the Premier reminded Germany that
Czechoslovakia's loyalty to it's alliances
with France and the Soviet Union is un-
shatterable.
Thomas Masaryk, the founding father,
would rejoice to know that the bulldog
breed he personified lives on in the ma
ton he created.