Czechoslovakia

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31768, 27 August 1968, Page 16

Czechoslovakia

Sir, —The Czech people have earned my humble and unstinted admiration. They have been shamefully misused all round, and are still united and resolute. In 1938 they had a pact with France whereby the latter came to their aid in the event of invasion. They had an army of a million men, and the Skoda armament works, perhaps the most invaluable in Europe. We (the British) had a moral responsibility to them by our military ties with the French but Mr Chamberlain, waving his Munich (“peace in our time”) agreement, simply offered them up to Hitler, as the French, more reprehensibly, had already done. In 1945 the Americans, to please their dear old ally Stalin, handed them on a plate to the Russians to “liberate.” If they think the whole Western world stinks to high heaven I would not blame them.— Yours, etc., I.S.T. August 26, 1968.

Sir,—l expect Mr Holyoake’s strong protest to the Russians will be the best joke of 1968. Or is it just to cover up a bad conscience, and what about the Dominican Republic? We cannot blame the United States if they do not want Russian missiles in Cuba, and we cannot blame Russia if they do not want American missiles in Czechoslovakia. Russia has never gained anything from the West, but has been invaded three times and lost 25 million lives the last time. I do not blame Russia if they are not going to take a second chance; they have good reason to be scared of the West. However, two wrongs do not make a right.—Yours, etc. W.W. August 25 1968.

Sir, —In reply to “New Zealand Housewife” and other Russian sympathisers, I should like to point out that the Vietnam war is Sovietsponsored and designed to further the cause of communism which, if left unchallenger, would spread throughout Asia and finally to the southern hemisphere. This state of affairs would no doubt suit many people in this country today, but the true New Zealander would prefer to fight if necessary to preserve his freedom. With regard to the German ques-

tion, the same old party line of the new Nazi threat is being served up, but the fact that this country is now surrounded by the enemy makes this a joke. The truth of the matter is that the Russians are determined on revenge for the debacle of 1941 when Hitler challenged them for world supremacy with their own brand of treachery and brutality, thus seriously retarding their master plan.— Yours, etc., L.G.W. August 26, 1968.

Sir—Let him who is without sin cast the first stone. The stoning of Soviet Russia for emulating the S.E.A.T.O. and A.N.Z.U.S. Powers actively engaged in the Vietnam invasion highlights the hypocritical utterances of these national leaders. Noone can, condone the action of Soviet Russia's invasion of Czechoslovakia any more than one can condone the invasion and slaughter of women and children in Vietnam. One is reputedly containing communism in Asia, the other ensuring the integrity of its border areas. I note New Zealand courtesy kept the Soviet Minister to New Zealand Mr Dorofeev, waiting 20 minutes to receive a strongly-worded Note from our Prime Minister.—Yours, NORTH-WEST. August 24, 1968. Sir*—The invasion of Czechoslovakia is an aggressive act by Soviet Russia and is similar to Hitler’s aggression in 1939. Who started the second war? The two allies, Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia, who in September, 1939, sent their soldiers to take Poland and, like two robbers, divided this country between them. Today Soviet Russia has sent its soldiers and tanks against the Czechoslovak people, whose only wish is to be free and do the best for their own country. —Yours, etc., FREEDOM OF CHOICE. August 26, 1968.

Sir—Why do “New Zealand Housewife” and others persist in their muddled thinking? The one obvious and important difference between American and New Zealand presence in Vietnam and Russian presence in Czechoslovakia is the statement often repeated by the South Vietnamese Government that they asked for assistance. The Czechoslovaks asked for no assistance and have denied vigorously that they wanted Russian “aid.” This was true invasion and how any “dove” in his or her right mind can think otherwise is beyond understanding.—Yours etc. HOUSEWIFE. August 24 1968.