WHY THE CZECHS YIELDED

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22514, 23 September 1938, Page 13

WHY THE CZECHS YIELDED

BRITISH AND FRENCH WARNINGS

RESPONSIBILITY FOR

WAR x

SACRIFICES RELUCTANTLY ACCEPTED (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.) (Received September 22, 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, September 22.. Following the official statement in Prague that the British and French proposals have been accepted, the Prague correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” learns from a reliable source that the terms of the British and French demarche to Czechoslovakia were:—

(1) France and Britain desired to prevent a European war * and an invasion of Czechoslovakia.

(2) France and Britain warned the Czechs against refusal to accept the London plan, which would brand Czechoslovakia as responsible for the consequences.

(3) If Czechoslovakia refused she would he guilty of destroying British-French solidarity, Britain having no obligations to the Czechs even if the French felt they had to fulfil theirs.

(4) If war resulted through the Czechs’ refusal to yield, France warned her in advance that she would not fulfil her obligations.

(5) An immediate answer was necessary.

An official Czech communique stated yesterday:—

“To-day at 5 p.m. the Foreign Minister (Dr. Krofta) received the French and British Ministers, and answered the joint demarche made at 2 a.m. Negotiations were opened for formal proceedings for a solution by the proposals, which France and Britain deemed necessary to make to Czechoslovakia on September 19. “The Czech Government has been forced, under irresistible pressure by both the British and French, to accept with pain the proposals elaborated in London.” “Forced to Accept” * An official broadcast stated: “After 20 years of peace and order a grave European crisis has broken out, and Czechoslovakia is threatened by dynamic political currents. Our Western European friends, France and Britain, are not prepared to help, and the Government is placed ip the dilemma of either accepting the Western Powers’ suggestions, or of fighting alone without hope of success.

“Therefore, the Government has been forced to accept all the conditions proposed, even the greatest sacrifices, to preserve the State’s independence. “Don’t let your courage sink. Remain firm in loyalty to the Republic. In a case unparalleled in history, our allies impose conditions which are usually dictated to vanquished enemies. It was not lack of courage which induced the Government to make this decision., God knows it is more courageous to live than to commit suicide. We stand alone, but % we shall rise again. You remain working. Nothing can be solved by acts of violence." After the broadcast a demonstration broke out.

Czech Stipulation

It is understood that the Czechs only accepted the plan after receiving a third demarche from Britain and France.

It is unofficially reported that the German armies were ready to march to-morrow evening. The Czech stock exchange has suspended trading indefinitely, but the foreign exchange market remains open. A provisional moratorium has been declared for the banks and private insurance companies, to become effective immediately. The banks are not obliged to pay current account creditors more than 3 per cent, of their assets monthly. 1 The Prague correspondent of the Exchange Telegraph Agency states that the Note conveying Czechoslovakia’s acceptance of the British and French plan was handed to the French and British Ministers, with the addition: “In accepting the plan, the Government stipulates that if Czechoslovakia is attacked, France and Britain- will nevertheless come to her aid.” Czech Bitterness

“Too late,” is the comment in the German press. Events have moved at such a pace that it is argued in some quarters that the Godesberg conference will no longer have to concern itself w.ith the future of the Sudeten Germans, but with the question whether Czechoslovakia is to continue to exist. It is clear from the press and from statements by authoritative Germans, that the resignation of Dr. Benes will be demanded.

The German newspapers continue to publish streams of abuse and horror, stories put out by the official news agency, which freely refers to Dr. Benes as “a murderer and- a monstrous liar.” - Frenchmen shamefacedly heard of Prague’s acceptance. Though the majority regard the proposals as justified in an attempt to avert a greater evil, the feeling of relief would have been greater if it could be regarded as certain that Herr Hitler will regard the offer which Mr Chamberlain has made as enough. It is now revealed that members of the French Cabinet, M. Paul Reynaud, M. Mandel, M. Gentien, M. Campinchi, and M. Zay, were opposed to the British and French plan, and wanted France to support the Czechs and stand by the treaty, but under pressure they acquiesced. It may be. necessary for an immediate session of the Czech Parliament to be called, to enable the acceptance of the plan to become fconstitutional.

The Prague correspondent of “The Times” states that the bitterness of

the' Czech feeling even among those who are disposed to accept the plan, is based on the complaint that the Western Powers have too long led them up the wrong street. Everyone is asking why Western opinion has so suddenly and strongly swung against them after years of praising them as a model democracy.

FRENCH THREAT TO CZECHS?

SPLIT REPORTED IN CABINET ■« (Received September 22, 8.50 p.m.)

LONDON, September 22.

“I must warn you that not only Herr Hitler, but Poland and Hungary, will have a free hand in Czechoslovakia unless you accept our proposals without alteration,” were words used by M. de la Croix, French Minister in Prague, to the Czech Ministers, when he and Mr Basil Newton (British Ambassador) delivered the Notes from London and Paris, according to the Paris correspondent of the “NewsChronicle.” The Notes were so worded that the Czechs regarded them as an ultimatum. The correspondent says that M. de la Croix’s statement was made with the approval of M. Bonnet (French Foreign Minister), acting on his own initiative, and certainly not consulting the Cabinet. The news has caused a Cabinet split.