Evening star., 1939-04-28

to neither party. From the ve.v
beginning the difficulty was that It
had to be accepted voluntarily by
both parties. Thus, when the de-
clsion came to be put into effect
violent protests were raised imme-
dlately following on the acceptance
by the two states.
Hungary. prompted by general
and particular interests, demanded
Carpatho-U Ukraine, while Poland
demanded direct means of COM
munlcation with Hungary.
Predestined to Extinction.
1t was clear that in such cir~
cumstances even the remnant of
the state which Versailles had
brought into being was predestined
to extinction. 1t was a fact that
perhaps only one single state was
interested in preservation of the
status quo and that was Rumania:
the man best authorized to speak
on behalf of that country told me
personally how desirable it would
be to have a direct line of COM
munication with Germany, perhaps
via Carpatho- Ukraine and Slovakia,
1 mention this as an illustration
OF the feeling of being menaced |oy
Germany from which the Rumanian
government-according to American
clalrvoyants-are supposed to be
suffering but it was now clear that
1t could not be Germany's task per-
manently to oppose the development
or actually to fight for the mainte-
nance of state of affairs for which
we could never have made ourselves
responsible. The stage was thus
reached at which, in the name of the
German government, I desired to
make declaration to the effect
that We had no intention OF any
longer incurring the reprobation of
| opposing the common wishes of Po-
land and Hungary as regards their
frontiers simply in order to keep an
open road of approach for Germany
| to Rumania.
Since. moreover, the Czech gov
ernment reSorted once more to its
old methods. and Slovakia also gave
expression to its desire for inde-
pendence, further existence of the
state was out of question. The con-
struction of Czecho-Slovakia worked
out at Versailles had had its day.
Promise No Longer Valid ~
| 1t broke up not because GERMANY
desired its breakup, but because. in
the long run, 1t was impossible to
construct and uphold around a con-
ference table artificial states which
are incapable of survival. Conse-
quently, in reply to the question re-
! gardlng guarantee which was Sub.
mitted by England and France a
few days before the dissolution of
this state, Germany refused tbs
guarantee, since all conditions for it
laid down at Munich were lacking.
On the contrary when, after the
whole structure of the state had
begun to break up and practically
speaking had already dissolved itself
the German government finally .
decided also to intervene. It did
this only in fulfillment of an obvious
duty for the following point should
be noted: On the OCCASION Of the
first visit of the oNb forekn
minister, M. Chvalkovsky, IN Munich,
the German government plainly ex-
pressed their views on the future of
Czecho-Slovakia. I myself assured
M. Chyalkovsky on that occasion
that, provided loyal treatment was
meted out to large German minor
tiles remaining in Czech territory
and provided general appeasemem
! OF the whole state was attained, We
/ would guarantee loyal attitude on
the part OF Germany and would.
for our part, place no obstacles in
the way of the state. y
But I also made it clear beyond
all doubt that if the Czechs were
to undertake any steps in line with
the political tendencies Of DR.. Benes,
their former President, Germany
would not put up with any deevlop-
ment along such lines, but would
stif1e it in its earliest stages. I also
pointed out at that time that the
maintenance of such a tremendous
military arsenal in Central Europe
for no reason or purpose could only
be regarded as focus of danger.
Czech Papers Dangerous.
Later developments proved how
justified my warning had been. Az
continuous and rising tide of UNDER
ground propaganda and a gradual
tendency on the part of Czech news
papers to elapse into the old style
Of writing made it finally clear even
to the greatest simpleton that the
old state Of affairs would soon be
restored.
The danger of military conflict
was all the greater as there was
always the possibility that some
mailman or other might get control
of the vast stores of munitions. This
involved the danger Of immense
explosions. AS proof of this, cam
not refrain, gentlemen, from giving
you an idea Of the truly gigantic
amounts Of this international store
OF explosives in Central Europe.
Since occupation of this territory,
the following have been connscased
and placed in safekeeping:
Air force:
Airplanes, 1882: anti-aircraft
| guns, SOL.
Army: