DAY OF HOPE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 29 October 1941, Page 4

DAY OF HOPE

ANNIVERSARY OF CZECH REPUBLIC ADDRESS BY PRIME MINISTER ( I: I-1 BRATION IN WELLINGTON "To-day is 28th October, a day of J' y from 1918 to 1937, u day of mourning now, but a day of hope, a day which gives us Czechoslovaks strength to continue the light for freedom and liberty, the light which our ancestors 'never gave up." With these sentiments the vice president of the Czechoslovakian Club, Mr J. Sukol.-ki, opened , the celebrations held in Wellington last night to mark the 23rd anniversary of tie- Czechoslovak Republic. "We Czechoslovak.: living here >n New Zealand." he added, "are grateful to the British people, to the New Zealand people and Government in particular, because they enabled us to build our new homes. Wo love this beautiful country because we find no change here. Czechoslovakia was founded on the ideals of democracy and justice and .so is New Zealand. I need not emphasise that there can be no doubt ot our loyalty to His Majesty the King and the British Commonwealth of Nations, and specially to the New Zealand Government. Some Czechoslovaks are already serving with the New Zealand forces, and many other relations and brothers of our members are serving with the British and Czechoslovak armies. Quite a number enlisted, but have not yet been accepted, and we hope that the difficulties will be overcome. We do all we can to help the New Zea- - land war effort, for we have one com I mon cause, to destroy Hitlerism. "May I end my speech with i Masaryk's and our national slogan: Pravda zvitezi, Truth will prevail.” Mr A. Sipos, who introduced the i speakers, said that the Czechoslovakian ■ colony in Wellington numbered only (iu, and it might seem bold of them to ask i the head of the New Zealand Governi ment to be present at the gathering when New Zealand's sons were fighting * by the thousands overseas, but he knew that he spoke for the 10,000 Czechoslovakian soldiers serving with the British Forces, and for the 7.000.000 saboteurs who were dying in hundreds ‘ for and in their own country. "To day we are commemorating the twenty-third anniversary of the foundation of the Republic of Czechoslovakia. that great country, which to ■ many of you is the land of your birth and of the homes of your kith and km. Tonight, our prayers echo and re-echo the aim of your great leader. Dr Bene.-, to have a free Czechoslovakia in a free Europe.” said the Consul for |Czechoslovakia, Mr E. J. Hyams. RELATION'S WITH POLAND “To-day, there exists a very close rei lationship between Poland and Czechoslovakia. Today, as never before, these countries are very much united, land as the late president, Mr T. G. ' Masai yk, stated in 'The New Europe,’ without a free Poland there will be ' no free Bohemia—without a free Bohemia there will be no free Poland.’ Dr Benes, in a telegram to the presi- ■ dent of the Polish Republic recently, stated that the relations and close cooperation which have sprung up be- : tween Czechoslovakia and Poland at a ’ time of great trials will not only be ' maintained but intensified as soon a* - ou- countries are liberated and will re- * main one of the underlying principles ; of the future of the organisation of 1 Europe. “The United States has extended 1 diplomatic recognition to the provision ‘ al Government of Czechoslovakia in Great Britain after similar action had 1 previously been taken by Great Britain and Russia. Count Wodzicki, Consul-General for Poland, said that in Ins own country their day of independence was ob- ’ served at present only by a silent prayer for victory. Czechoslovakia, like Poland, had the spirit of resistance and of victory. The trials both countries were undergoing only j strengthened their resolution. Both. centuries ago, had had a highly- . specialised culture. A EUROPEAN TRAGEDY "We have heard something of the great history of your country and of ;ts struggle for freedom over cen turies,” said the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, in expressing the kindly feelings of the people and Government of New Zealand toward the people of Czechoslovakia. "Just over two years * ago,” he added. “we saw enacted a ‘ tragedy and. without minimising the seriousness of the position, we saw Czechoslovakia the pawn in a game of nations, played badly from the dc- ' mocracies’ point of view, but -ortainlv - under difficulties." He said that a great advantage following the last war had been the creation of a free and independent people who had formerly been 'dominated by the Hohenzollerns and Hapsburgs. Above all, had been the League of Nations, and the weakness of the League had been the weak- ] ness of the various Governments. Fundamentally the principles of the League were sound, and still were, but the Governments did not rise to the heights of those principles, and the retreat began in the Far East, being followed by that in Abyssinia, till the late of the whole world hung in the balance. Though it was known to be unavoidable in certain ways, tlie it 1 porising that then took place had ifie nr A a ken idea that by sacrificing part of Czechoslovakia, the world would be saved from another war and another bath of blood. The hypocrisy of the German claim to the Sudeten part of Czechoslovakia had been very obvious, but it had been hoped to stave off war. That was in vain. Right from Manchuria. Abyssinia, the Rhineland and then Czechoslovakia democracy retreated and, when finally a stand was taken on the invasion of Poland, it had been too long delayed. Now attention had been turned to the other great ! Slav nation, and they saw worldshaking battles on the greatest and 'longest battlefront they had ever known. However, one thing outstanding was that of the countries overrun, the people had not been overrun, and had not been defeated.