CZECHS PRAISED

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 152, 30 June 1938, Page 7

CZECHS PRAISED

RELIEF OF TENSION

GERMAN POLICY OUTLINED

"There is reason to believe that the tension between Germany and Czechoslovakia relative to the position of the German minority in the latter country has eased considerably in the last few days, and if this state of affairs has a solid foundation the world as a whole has good reason for deep satisfaction," said Mr. R. M. Algie in an address on the international situation, given at a meeting of the New Zealand Accountants' and Auditors* Association last night, states the "New Zealand Herald" of today.

Mr. Algie said unstinted' praise was due to the Czech people and their political leaders for the calmness and clear thinking displayed in the face of a danger which could so easily have involved them in the complete loss of their national independence. The German Government often stated that it had no aggressive intentions _ in respect of Czechoslovakia, and indeed if the reverse were true the German case would be without justification. HITLER'S AMBITIONS. The German minority in, Czechoslovakia had never been subjects of, or a part of, the German empire, added Mr. Algie. They spoke the German language and had a German culture, but at no time owed allegiance to Germany. They became a minority in a new State when the Republic of Czechoslovakia was founded. The Czech Government agreed in the Treaty of St. Germain to deal justly with the German-speaking/ minority and give them as far as possible treatment equivalent to that accorded their own people. All available evidence led to the conclusion that the treaty had been loyally observed. "Where then is. the reason for the present difficulty?" Mr. Algie asked. "The explanation seems to be in the fact that since Herr Hitler came to power there has grown up a movement for the union of all German-speaking peoples in lands bordering upon Germany itself. Pursuant to this aim, Austria, which is virtually German, has already been absorbed into Germany, and the Apstro-Germans living in Czechoslovakia have sought to make their grievances an excuse for German intervention on their behalf. THREAT TO WORLD PEACE. "The Czechs maintain that the solution of the Austro-German minority problem is entirely a matter for Czechoslovakia herself," Mr. Algie continued. "Other nations are interested simply and solely because they know that if Germany should seek to intervene the: problem would at once become a European one, and a world war would be practically inevitable. The argument of the Czechs is correct in principle and sound historically. If national sovereignty means anything they must be allowed to work out their own internal affairs, and on the evidence before us there could be no just ground for German intervention.''