DRIVE TO THE EAST

Evening Star, Issue 23094, 21 October 1938, Page 10

DRIVE TO THE EAST

THE PLANS Of HITLER CZECH STATE A PATHWAY ROLE AS A VASSAL Reichsfuhrer Hitler has no intention of renouncing his adventure in Czechoslovakia in preparation for a great drive to the Near East, cabled Alex. Small from Prague to the ‘ Chicago Tribune ’ on September 3. This disclosed to the ‘ Tribune ’ correspondent by a secret envoy sent by Hitler on a tour of inspection through central and south-eastern European capitals. ; The main task of this envoy is to verify the state of preparation of Nazi or Nazi-sympathising organisations in Czechoslovakia and Hungary. He also will go to Bucharest, Rumania, and Belgrade, Yugoslavia, to find out how those Governments are disposed towards Germany’s planned drive of expansion. Here in Prague the envoy has been holding long conferences with Sudeten German (Nazi minority) leaders. It was through the latter that the ‘ Tribune ’ correspondent met him. The importance of this man as one of the big figures behind the scenes in Germany is vouched for by Sudeten German leaders. He is perfectly ■willing to talk, even giving the impression that Hitler and Herman Wilhelm Goering, whose intentions he is expressing, do not object to publicity in this matter..

The first point the secret envoy wanted to make clear was that Hitler does not desire a conquest in Czechoslovakia. It does not fit his doctrine of racial purity to incorporate millions of Slavs in the German Empire. But he does want the Sudeten German districts around Czechoslovakia’s borders to fill in the picture of a “ complete Germany.” TO BREAK RED ALLIANCE. More important, he wants to destroy Czechoslovakia’s power as a:“ mischief maker,” which is how he regards the republic at present. That means breaking up the French-Russian-Czechoslovak alliance and generally so arranging Czechoslovakia that it will become a convenient thoroughfare for Germans en route to Rumania, Ukrainia, Turkey, and the Near East. Germany, Hitler feel?, will have the world position to which it is entitled only when the resources of Southern Europp—chiefly oil and grain—are under Germany’s control' and the routes of access to them are secured. Then, he believes, he will be safely able to defy the British Fleet. An attack ,on ’ Czechoslovakia, therefore, was decided upon. It might come as early as the end of September, or it might come towards the end of the year. More likely, in the opinion of the * Tribune’s ’ informant, it will come next spring. In any case it will come suddenly, and will not he heralded by such ballyhoo as has been seen in the last two weeks. The methods, to be used will parallel as much as those used by the Nazis against Austria. The ■ Sudeten German quarrel with the Czechs is to he Kept alive. At this moment the Prague Government is working on its third plan for settlement of the minorities Berlin’s programme calls for rejection, of this plan and the submissionof counter-proposals which Prague is sure not to accept.

LOOK TO RUNCIMAN. It is then Loped, and even expected, that Viscount Runciman, British mediator, will produce a plan of his own. In fact, the Germans will make strenuous efforts to have him do bo and will even suggest some of its features. One feature they desire inost is an international control commission to watch application of the plan in the Sudeten German areas. This plan the Germans will accept. They will do everything in their power, however, to make it inoperative. By constant harassing tactics they expect to break down the patience of the Czechs,\ especially in the rural districts of mixed population, where-application of any plan is bound to be extremely complex and difficult. _ As soon as the international commission agrees that; the Czechs have failed to apply the plan IGO per cent., Germany will take action. .

This follows the example of Austria, where Chancellor Kurt Schusehnigg was accused of not applying the agreement of 1934. He was summoned to Berchtesgaden, Bavaria, promised Hitler to amend his conduct, and immediately called for a plebiscite. Germany expects with Czechoslovakia to have the same situation—a broken agreement, or one they can say has been broken, and count on some Czech gesture of exasperation. This is the scenario, which has been worked out in Berlin. Goering, the * Tribune’s ’ informant said, is its chief author._ In fact, he even hinted that Hitler is somewhat sceptical about the Czechoslovak adventure and inclines to ho cautious. CHANGES ALLOWED FOR.

The plan of action up to this point is subject to changes dictated by cir'cumstances, hut the plans and intentions for the period after the attack begins are already perfectly definite. Only the occupation of border districts" which have a majority of German population is contemplated. The few areas of German population inside wholly Czech territory will be left to fate. From two to three weeks, it is calculated, will be to end resistance in the districts occupied. There will he no air bombardment of Prague or other big cities, provided the task proves easy. But if the Czech army proves tougher than anticipated, Prague will bo blown to bits in the • most gigantic air raid ever known. After the disturbances are over the Sudeten German districts are to be incorporated into the Reich, as was Austria. For the districts of mixed population an exchange will be effected. Czechs will be sent into Czech territory and in their place* Germans who are now living in areas surrounded by Czechs will be moved in. As for what is left of Czechoslovakia, it will not he annexed, hut will be reduced to the role of a vassal State of the German Reich. Czechs will he allowed to keep their Parliament and to manage their own country. The Czechs will, however, be allowed no border fortifications and no army other than the national constabulary necessary for the maintenance of internal order. They will he allowed to direct their own economic lives, except that they will he _ required to enter a Customs union with Germany.

The most important of all the measures to he Imposed on Czechoslovakia in Hitler’s eyes is to deprive it of a Foreign Office. The Czech Cabinet will not bo ipermitted_ to include any official called a Minister of Foreign Affairs. This department will he closed down. Such foreign policy as the future Czechoslovakia has, under the Nazi plan, will he determined entirely in and hy Berlin,