CZECHOSLOVAK MINORITIES

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22344, 7 March 1938, Page 9

CZECHOSLOVAK MINORITIES

M. HODZA’S DEFIANCE OF HITLER ! —• “INTERFERENCE WILL NOT BE PERMITTED” i (Received March 5, 3 p.m.) | PRAGUE. March 4. A storm of cheering in Parliament j greeted the declaration of the Premier (M. Hodza) that “the minority question Is exclusively our domestic affair. The Czechs will never permit interference with it. If fate compels us to defend ourselves we shall do so to the last. “We are ready to co-operate with Germany on a basis of equality.” I The Prague correspondent of “The i Times” says that M. Hodza’s speech, as the first official pronouncement since Herr Hitler’s and General Goering’s speeches, has aroused unusual interest. M. Hodza gratefully acknowledged the stability of the British policy. He'said that Czechoslovakia did not desire formal pacts or a special agreement with the British Empire, but merely desired that London would recognise the peace of Central Europe. It was a matter of general concern, therefore, and was to Britain’? interest, that Czechoslovakia’s relations with Germany should be cleared up. The exchange of views through diplomatic channels during the last six months had been encouraging, he added. Czechoslovakia was anxious to come to a permanent understanding on a reciprocal basis. The events of the last few weeks, however, had shifted conversations to dangerous ground. .The position required careful consideration in view of Herr Hitler’s and General Goering’s speeches. “Czechoslovakia guarantees equal rights to all citizens without distinction of nationality.” he said. “Herr Hitler’s assertion of the right to protect Germans outside Germany will mean interference in the internal affairs of Czechoslovakia, which the population will never allow in any circumstances. Czechoslovakia regards her frontier as absolutely inviolable.”