CZECHOSLOVAK MINORITIES

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22345, 8 March 1938, Page 13

CZECHOSLOVAK MINORITIES

PRESIDENT AMPLIFIES ATTITUDE "NO INTERFERENCE FROM GERMANY" PRAGUE, March 6. The vigorous reply to Herr Hitler by the Prime Minister of Czechoslovakia (Dr. M. Hodza) was amplified by the President (Dr. hj.. Benes) in an interview with the "Sunday Times." Dr Benes emphatically declared that Czechoslovakian treatment of minorities and the relationship ot the Government with Geimar. parties were an internal issue which could never be the subject of direct official negotiation or discussion with foreign Powers, because such SerfeVence in internal affairs could be repeated on any occasion and provoke lasting trouble. Nevertheless. Czechoslovakia would never denounce minority treaties for the fulfilment of- which she was accountable to the League of Nations "There is no panic in Czechoslovakia," he said. "We do not believe that war is imminent, but we are prfpaS to defend our democratic ideals forcefully if ce J^ will never use our well-equipped army for any purpose but the tul filment of obligations based on the League Covenant. . "We of course, will never abandon the Western Powers with which we are linked by a common democracy but that does not mean'that we forget our economic relations with Germany and the vital necessity of good poliScal relltions. We will cordially welcome successful links between Britain and Germany and between Britain and Italy,, as they will greatly ease Central European diffiCU Dr eS ßenes added that Germans were unquestionably better, treated £ Czechoslovakia than in minorities elsewhere but this did not mean that all Germans were satisfied. However, dissatisfaction was partly a Stir of tactics and feeling with the opposition parties.