Evening star., 1938-07-28
Czech MinOrities.

Inc nauonaltleS and language stat
utes proposed by the Czechoslovakian
government in an effort to appease its
clamoring minorities-and all Of Europe
as well-inspire the hope that out OF the
crisis which followed the Austrian seiz-
ure by Germany a stronger Czechoslo-
vakian state may emerge.
Yet it is not quite accurate to denom-
mate this new state a CZechoslovakian
state, for patiently it will be an organism
of highly integrated and equalized parts,
nearly half OF which are neither Czech
nor Slovak. There is reason to believe
that the various national groups
Czech, Slovak, Sudeten German, Hum
garian, Ruthenian and Pole-none Of
which comprises majority Of the u.s.
100000 population-will find as time
goes on that the state is taking on a
composite character, not unlike that Of
Switzerland, rather than being predom-
inantly Czech, as in the past.
The principle of apportioning state
jobs public funds and legislative repre-
sentation among minorities according to
their strength, and of recognizing the
various languages for school and gen.
eral administrative purposes cannot but
influence the character Of the state, just
as similar equalization has Influenced
Switzerland, Belgium and other BIZ
national or multi-national countries.
Although Switzerland has long given
official status to the French, German
and Italian minorities within its borders
and just recently has raised Romansh.
a dialect of Italian, to official position
a more recent example is that of Bel
gium, which until after the war was
faced with a bitter Flemish separatist
movement. Now both Flemish snd
French languages are official, and the
schools, the courts and government ad-
ministration are bi-lingual. What Flem-
ish separatism remains is a dying REM
nant.
1t is unfortunate that the Praha gov
ernment had to release its minorities
statutes piecemeal, leaving until later
the much more vital measure dealing
with the nature and tasks of the new
legislative and administrative organs.
1t Is in this projected law that the
Sudetens are particularly interested, be-
cause on 1t depends how far their de-
mands for autonomy are to be fulAlled.
II the Praha government finds 1t inn
possible to yield to the utmost in this
respect the beneficial effect CT the Ia
tionalities and language statutes in
counteracting discomfort will be seriously
reduced. The separation was apparently
due to a desire to obtain partial ap-
peasement before discomfort Of the ma
tional groups could lead to more serious
consequences.
Motivating this expeditions handling
of one part of the minority problem was
Great Britain, with the anxiety of Prime
Minister Chamberlain to begin discus
sion OF settlement with Germany to
reinforce the Anglo Italian agreement,
not yet In effect because OF the pro-
longation of the Spanish war.
Selection by Mr.. Chamberlain Of Wis.,
count Runciman for the role Of "medi-
ator" in Czechoslovakia, and the readi-
ness of the Praha government to accept
him as an adviser" are hopeful auguries
for more extensive use in Europe of the
process OF mediation, which has recently
proved so successful In Latin America.
Although there was no place for arbitra-
ton in the Czech -Sudeten controversy,
mediation can and should help to heal
this fostering sore in Central Europe.