Evening star., 1939-03-16
HhIer's Proclamation
Decree Read by Won Ribbentrop Specifies
Busis of Bohemian -Morovion Protectorote
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
PRAGUE, March 16.-Following Is
an abstract of Chancellor Hitler's
proclamation Of a protectorate over
Bohemia and Moravia, broadcast by
German Foreign Minister Joachim
Won Ribbentrop:
For 1000 years Bohemia and Mo-
ravian lands were part of the living
space of the German people.
But force and lack of reason tort
them arbitrarily from their old his
toric environment and finally
through their inclusion in the arti-
f1cial formation of Czecho-Slovakia
created center of disturbance.
At any time from this space q new
and formidable threat to European
peace was bound to arise. This had
happened once before.
That is because the Czecho-
Slovak state and those in charge OF
1t did not succeed in the sensible
organization of the common life OF
national groups. which were arbi-
trarily united within its borders, and
thereby in awakening and main
tanning the interests of all con-
cerned In maintaining this common
state.
State Fell to Pieces.
Thereby the Czecho-Slovak state
proved its inability to live and actu-
ally fell to pieces.
The German Reich, however
could not tolerate lasting disturb
ances in these regions which are SO
important to its own peace and
security as well as to the general
welfare and the general peace.
Sooner or later Germany was the
power most strongly interested
through its historical and geo.
graphical position and, as the power
most seriously affected, was destined
to bear the most serious conse-
quences.
1t is therefore by the law of self.
survival that the German Reich /.
determined to intervene decisively
again to erect the foundations OF
reasonable Central European order
and proclaim DEGREES accordingly,
Germany already has proven IL
Its 1,000-year-old historical past
that, by reason of its size and the
characteristics of the German
nation, 1t alone is predestined tc
solve these problems.
Basis Of Cooperation Decreed.
Filled with an earnest desire tc
serve the true interests of the
peoples dwelling in this living space
to safeguard the national and in
d1vidual characteristics of the Ger.
man and Czech peoples, to serve the
peace and social welfare of all, ]
therefore decree in the name of the
German Reich as the basis for the
future cooperation Of the in.
habitants of this territory the
following:
First-Those lands of the former
Czecho-Slovak Republic which wert
occupied by German troops ir
March of 1889 belong henceforth t<
the territory of the greater Reich
and come under its protection a.
"the protectorate of Bohemia and
Moravia." Insofar as the defense
of the Reich demands, the Fuehrel
will decree regulations for individual
sections of this area.
Second German inhabitants ol
the protectorate become German
subjects and, under the stipulations
of the Reich's citizenship law OF
September, 1895, they become
citizens.
Accordingly, provisions for the
protection of German blood and
German honor also apply to them
They are under the jurisdiction o1
German laws and courts.
Remaining inhabitants of b.
hemia and Moravia are made sub
jects of the protectorate of Bo.
hemia and Moravia.
Protectorate Autonomous.
Third-The protectorate of Bo;
hemia and Moravia is autonomoui