CALM JUDGMENT

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 63, 12 September 1938, Page 9

CALM JUDGMENT

DR, BENES'S APPEAL

"OPTIMISM STRONGER THAN EVER"

FAITH IN HIS STATE

PRAGUE, September 10, President Benes, in a broadcast speech today, appealed for calm judgment. He refrained from reI ferring to the intei'national situation, i and emphasised Czechoslovakia's | peaceful, progressive development. lie added that world events compcl- | led her to accelerate her actions, but her spirit had not altered. ! "We are endeavouring," he said, "to satisfy the claims of both States and nationalities while guaranteeing that the individual will receive the maximum degree of political justice in the spirit of true democracy. For this reason we presented our latest proposals, "We want to establish good relations with our neighbours, especially Greater Germany, thus proving to America and Europe — particularly . Britain and France —that we understand that we shall have to fulfil the duties imposed on us by.the general collaboration. "We must re-establish confidence and co-operation between the two great nationalities of our republic and ensure the peaceful development for which we are working not only in the interests of Europe and the world, but of our own towns, factories, and families. "Circumstances compel us to be the first people to make a just settlement of the nationalities problem, but \v<? shall not be the last. A solution entails sacrifice, but we are determined to do our utmost for peace. I have an unshakable faith in our State, its powers, its resistance, its magnificent army; and its invincible spirit. My optimism is stronger than ever."