Nazi Ambitions

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 211, 7 September 1938, Page 13

Nazi Ambitions

CZECHS’ FIRM STAND When on March 11 the absorption of Austria by Germany was accomplished without bloodshed but with a great display of force, aptly described as power politics, Nazi ambitions m Czechoslovakia were deemed to be ripe for the harvest—provided strong intervention did not take place. It is because of tho threat of immediate intervention by Franco and—conditionally upon French support —by Russia, that the question has remained in the balance for four months, culminating in the present internal negotiations to which Viscount Runciman is giving his aid as au independent mediator, states the New Zealand Herald. Early in the day, the Czech Army called up reserves ostensibly to maintain order during tho elections. Recently there has been a huge mobilisation of German troops, ostensibly Tor manoeuvres of unusually long duration But beyond an incident or two about which much clamour was raised ny Nazi propagandists, the whole issue has remained in the zone of local and international diplomacy. Convinced' of strong support, the Government of Czechoslovakia has all through maintained a strong stand. That tho country has not been attacked is doubtless due to the known attitude of France and Russia. - International Dangers Patent What the next few days or the next few # wceks may bring forth only those inside diplomatic circles can gue»». Hope for peace is encouraged by the fact that tho aggressive words of German leaders have not been translftec into actions and that conversations between the leaders of the parties to the dispute arc proceeding satisfactorily. The international dangers are patent, but tho present generation has become so accustomed to crises that tho averago person is less sensitive to such a situation than he would have been prior to 1914. Actually the cauldron of Europe is blazing, but the general disposition is to hope for the best from day to da a*. A survey of the news for the first tAvo weeks helps to fix the fundamentals of tho position. It is significant that within a few days of the German occupation of Austria the British Dominions were reported to be inquiring about Britain’s attitude toward Czechoslovakia. Would Britain stand for collective security within th* League of Nations or stand aloof. Tn« reply of Mr Chamberlain, given a little later, Avas that Britain’s obligations toward Czechoslovakia were the ramo as those of every member of the League of Nations toward its fellow members. Meantime British diplomacy has exerted ever}' effort to find a peaceful way out of the problem. Original German Demands That the Nazi group of Czechoslovakia, known as tho Sudeten Germans, was ready to make the bid for autonomy, was indicated as early as March 15 when a spokesman in Parliament derided the “compromise” of February, 1937 and declared their determination to fight for political, economic and cultural rights. About the same time a message from Berlin said that self-Governraent for the Sudeten Germans and no pacta with Russia were the conditions Ger* many would ultimately demand from the Government of Czechoslovakia. B3’ March .17, Russia had undertaken to fulfil pledges toward Czechoslovakia provided Franco also did so. The following day tho French Foreign Minister informed tho British Ambassador of his fears that there would D© early German aggression in Czechoslovakia. The atmosphere favoured a rapid arousing of the spirit of independence among tho Sudcteu Germans. Their utterances in the Czechoslovakian Parliament became moro truculent. Reply of the Czech Government The elections of March 21 saw the Sudeten Party the strongest in the House, although a minority that further dwindled by the coalition of three Czech parties. Soon after Herr Hitler delivered another of his orations, the burden of which was “One people, ono Roich— Germany.” Within a day or two, the reply ot the Czechoslovakian Government to the demand for autonomy of the German minority of 3,500,000 was announced by the Prime Minister, Dr. Hodza. Ho said that a Minority Statute Avas to bo druwn to provide a legal basis for the final settlement of the question. Thi*, he said, would consolidate in one systematic charter all existing rights ana concessions, and would apply to ail minorities. He concluded with the definite statement: “The Government will not concede the claim for German autonomy. * ’ Clouded though the whole situation has been, two points have stood < out clearly. One is the determination •"* 01 the Czechoslovakian Government' to maintain territorial integrity. The other is tho determination of the Sudeten Germans to gain autonomy even though that would create another minority problem because the distribution of the people makes it impossible to mark off an area in which one rac.j is overwhelmingly predominant. Before the month of May was out there had been some disorders in fronttier towns, comparatiA’eh’ minor in character, but given significance by Nazi opinion. Field-Marshal Goering's newspaper said: “The German people cannot regard these incidents as accidental outbreaks of Czech Chauvinism, but as a planned attack upon the rights and the \*cry life of the Sudeten Germans.”