BRITAIN’S POLICY AT MUNICH

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25732, 18 February 1949, Page 7

BRITAIN’S POLICY AT MUNICH

Documents Issued By Foreign Office SIR N. HENDERSON’S DISPATCHES

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON, February 17. The publication of official Foreign Office documents covering the period 1919 to 1939 makes it clear that the British Government under Mr Neville Chamberlain, supported by the strongest representations from its Ambassador in Berlin (Sir Nevile Henderson), brought increasing pressure on the Czechs to induce them to capitulate to the German demands. These papers, says the “Manchester Guardian,” should once and for all destroy the myth that Munich was a blunder into which the British Government stumbled unawares. The official records show that it was the result of deliberate British policy. This policy, it is disclosed, developed immediately after the German annexation of Austria. Very soon after this took place, the then British Minister in Prague (Mr Basil Newton) wrote to the Foreign Office: “Nothing we or France could do could save Czechoslovakia from being overrun. Therefore Czechoslovakia should be encouraged to adjust her position to the circumstances of postwar Europt ” Sir Nevile Henderson supported this view, and at different times wrote strongly to the then Foreign Secretary (Lord Halifax) urging, to use his own words, that “Dr. Benes must be made to swallow a disagreeable pill.” “Pigheaded” Czechs In one of his communications Sir Nevile Henderson described the Czechs as “an incorrigibly pigheaded people.” The records show that although the Foreign Office and Lord Halifax did not unreservedly approve Sir Nevile Henderson’s recommendations, their main preoccupation was that Sir Nevile Henderson should restrain German aggressiveness until the Czechs were, willing to give way peacefully. This attitude was apparently dictated by Mr Chamberlain’s belief that France and Britain were not strong enough to .oppose Germany’s designs. At a meeting of French Ministers which he attended in April, 1938, Mr Chamberlain said that he did not consider Britain and France had the necessary strength to do this. -About this time both Mr Newton in Prague and Sir Nevile Henderson in cerlin reiterated their arguments that me Czechs should be urged to give Way to Hitler’s demands. . ‘lf Czechoslovakia. wants to survive ®. ail she must come economically e- the orbit of Germany,” said oir Nevile Henderson. Later Sir J*eviie Henderson suggested that to Czechs to admit this, Brisupport a plebiscite which detach from Czechoslovakia the S? eten German areas on the frontier Between Germany and Czechoslovakia.

Runciman Mission *u. e records show that in face of pre . ss V re the Czechs agreed to inBntain to send the abortive misead?d by Lord Runciman, in ope that if they made some conBritain would give them stronger support. evil ® Henderson at this stage terS’j c ? nsi derable faith in what he P ‘moderate elements” around represented to Lord Halilf.the Czechs gave way they Germans fair treatment from the cX°J!? pease the Germans the British u JSed the Czechs to disnot ® ade it plain that it was itv J!f=? ar F d to give them any securChaShlr^- ees - At the same time Mr Govprnrri lain was urging the French It to , adopt the British line, that thl e iJl sed> . Mr Chamberlain said, treat J re ? ch were committed by but j atlons to assist the Czechs, C-ovX^ ads \t plain that the British similan? ent d - d not consider itself bS b ' C o or 2 n ?L tted - La ter Mr Chamtheir all?J« ed the French to repudiate less Dr sce5 ce Wlt h Czechoslovakia unions. ’ Benes ma dc further concesM ’hether C th Ul ?» ei ?J. s do not disclose cow xv a ~ th u B . rit . ls h Embassy in MostJevelor>m«»! C < ept In touch with these Wa s takpn ll ?’ ° r whether any step tions. t 0 ascer tain Russia’s reac-