CZECHS’ POSITION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 247, 26 July 1940, Page 8

CZECHS’ POSITION

NOT BOUND TO THE NAZIS. EXHORTATION TO RESISTANCE. (United Press Association—Copyright * , LONDON, July 24. In a broadcast address from London to-night Dr. E. Benes (President of Czechoslovakia) told Czechoslovaks that they were bound by none of the pledges .which they had been compelled to give to the Nazis. ' “You are not subject to any fuhrcr or ‘ protector. You are not subject to any legal system decreed by the Nazis. You are not bound by any promises, pledges, of oaths which have been forced upon you,” he said. . “.We are dealing with a great struggle, at the end of which we shall have a now world, a new Europe, and our new Republic. For this new world we are fighting.” ' The first great step toward that victory, said Dr. Benes, was the recognition of his Government on British territory, and the existence of the ■ Czech Army, which was preparing in England to carry on the fight. Portfolios in the provisional Czechoslovak Government include M. Jan Sramek as Prime Minister. MajorGeneral Serge Jngr a's Minister for War, anci M. Jan Masarvk as Minister for Foreign Affairs. The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr R. A. Butler) spoke in a broadcast of the British decision to recognise the Czechoslovak Provisional Government established in London. The Government, he said, was presided over by Dr. Benes, and was composed of distinguished men who had held high office in the Czechoslovak Republic. Some of them had been members of the present German puppet Administration who preferred to give up office and risk their lives to join their compatriots abroad, and so work for the restoration of Czechoslovak liberties.

After tracing the efforts of the Czechoslovak leaders to prepare for the restoration of the freedom of their country, Mr Butler paid a high tribute to the Czechoslovak forces, which, he said, had once refused to accept defeat, but had fought, their way through to . the Mediterranean and come to Britain after a risky journey by sea. These trained men, together with Czech pilots from the Czechoslovak sections of the. French Air Force, were yiow ready to carry on the struggle side by side with their British comrades. Remarking that Czech pilots had already carried the war in the air back to Germany, Mr Butler added: “We trust that before long they will pay, not flying visits to Germany, hut will take up permanent residence again in their own freed country.’’

Speaking of conditions inside Czechoslovakia, Mr Butler praised the bravery of the students in their ill-fated demonstration last November, and said that qualities of obstinacy and cool courage were still being displayed in resisting- the German masters. Everyday, in spite of the elaborate and brutal machinery of German repression, these countless and often unrecorded acts of resistance to the will of the Qerman taskmasters continued. ' Although there were many problems and it was impossible to say what might be the political boundaries of Central Europe after the war, Mr Butler., said that none should question the right of the Czechoslovak people to a free and independent existence. They had provided an attractive, lively model of what democratic government could do for its people. They would again be a source of inspiration to all who favoured government by the people for the people.

Asked whether he was able to state the composition and status of the present. situation of the Belgian Government, Mr Butler said that, as far as he was aware, there had been no change in composition since May 10, and there had been no change of status since 1 it assumed by decree, on May 28, the sovereign powers of the King. The Ministers, Mr Butler added, were believed to be in unoccupied France, with the exception of the Ministers for Colonies and Health.—British Official Wireless.