THE OLYMPIAD AND A MAP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22466, 9 July 1936, Page 12

THE OLYMPIAD AND A MAP

When a mere railway poster arouses the hostile notice of a foreign Government there must be something seriously amiss, with either the poster or the Government. In the instance reported to-day the fault lies with the poster. One has been issued by the German State Railways in connection with the forthcoming Olympiad in Berlin, and thousands of copies have been .circulated throughout the world. It has a map on which is shown a running-track from Athens to Berlin. In itself, the enterprise thus active in the German railway officials is commendable. But they have rather spoiled their advertising of a great international sports fixture, for which Germany requested the privilege of acting as host, by playing tricks with the map—a matter about which nations in Europe are particularly sensitive just now. This map alters the position of Czechoslovakia and the line of its frontier adjoining Germany in such a way that the German-speaking districts of the north-western part of Czechoslovakia are placed within Germany. This, has naturally been noticed by Czechoslovakia, and its Minister of the Interior has taken action. It may be that the offending poster represents no more than an excess of national zeal on the part of some indiscreet cartographer, but his official position and the national status of his department make the indiscretion serious. . It touches the very question at present creating most anxiety in Europe. After the sending of armed troops into the Rhineland has come the trouble in Danzig, which is vitally related to Germany's eastern boundary, and anything suggestive of encroachment on Czechoslovakia is bound to excite resentment there. By the Treaty of Versailles the old frontier between Austria-Hungary and Germany was recognised by Germany as constituting the frontier of the new Czechoslovak State. The Nazi programme, however, has frankly contemplated the German absorption of this part of Czechoslovakia, and recently there has been increased nervousness in that country, in fear of a forcible attempt to carry out the intention.