Czech Soldier Chooses Way of Peace

Northern Advocate, 1 October 1938, Page 7

Czech Soldier Chooses Way of Peace

(Received 12.30 p.m.) : PRAGUE, September 30. Q.ENERAL SIRQVY, CZECH PRIME MINISTER. IN A BROiWDCAST, SAID: “THIS IS THE MOST DIFFICULT MOMENT OF MY LIFE. 1 ’ | HAVE TAKEN A DECISION TO SAVE LIFE, AND ALSO TO SAVE TH* r NATION. SUPERIOR FORCE HAS COMPELLED US TO ACCEPT. MV 1 DUTY WAS TO CONSIDER EVERYTHING, AND, AS A SOLDIER. I HAM TO CHOOSE THE WAY TO PEACE. } “The national will is stronger and more united. We have ' chosen only right course. Four Powers decided to ask from us abdication of German territory. We had to choose between a useless fight and sacrifices. W& hihW accepted unheard-of sacrifices. j “We have to choose between death of the nation and abdication of somd territory. The main thing is that we are remaining ourselves. We must bS united. I appeal to the people to maintain confidence in their leaders. Our main concern i» that we must rebuild the State.” ; Labour leaders then appealed for loyalty of the unions. Czech military; authorities have taken full control of the railways. “The terms imposed are unique in the history of mankind. We hadf to. : H capitulate because we were deserted by all the States,in Europe. We stand alone while all round are nations armed to the teeth. “We could not allow the army, to which we giVe our thanks, to fight against such overwhelming odds. We call on the nation to bear its painful suffering with composure and dignity, and try to seek happiness within f the narrower frontiers.” Solemn crowds listened to the speech with utter dejection, but there were no demonstrations,. A ■ National Mourning Excitement is growing in Prague since the announcement of the agreement. The Social Democrats are concerned as to the state of their col* leagues in Sudetenland. Fifty thousand have already fled to inner'Czechoslovakia. It is officially announced from Prague that the Czechoslovak Government has accepted the terms drawn up at Munich by the Representatives of Britain, France, Germany and Italy for the cession of. the* ?udeten territory to Germany. The full terms imposed on Czechoslovakia are unknown to ‘.he public. All radio programmes ’have been cancelled as a sign of national mourning. Only half-hour news bulletins are permissible. Bitterness And Despair The Prague correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says it is impossible to convey the bitterness arid despair with which Czechoslovakia learned the terms of the agreement. To the bitterness of this humiliation is added the resentment of the manner in which the agreement was carried o|it by the Powers, who, they felt, imposed Herr Hitler’s will on Czechoslovakia. ■ 1 The Munich correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says that the majority of Germans are not concerned whether Herr Hitler has given way. They are only interested that war has been averted, which is solely attributed to the Anglo-French intervention. lietter informed Nazis are crestfallen, believing that Herr Hitler has „ conceded more than England and France. ' 1 A message from Berlin says that Von Brauchitsch. has issued a proclamation to the army, “Our troops will enter the liberated territory with > happy pride, being the heralds of German discipline and order, and henceforth the instruments of its supreme commander in offering their German brothers the strong protection of German arms.” ■ . ’