March 24.
German-Austria will have to return to the great German Motherland, but not for eco-amic reasras. No, no! "Even it reunion, Yooked at from that point of view, were matter of indifference—nay, even if it were: actually injurious—it would still have to come. Common flood should belong to a common Reich. The German people have no right to dabble in a colonial policy as long as they are! tunable to gather their own sons into a common Stale. "Not till the confines of the 'Reich clude every single German, and are certain of being able to nourish him, can there be a moral right for Germany to acquire territory' abroad whilst her people are in need.
The above quotation is taken from Herr Hitler's "Mein Kampf" and it is as well that it should be referred to when considering the] developments which are taking place in Czechoslovakia, where the Government Is endeavouring to satisfy the aspirations of the Sudetic Germans under the leadership of Dr. Konrad Henlein, Latest reports indicate that the Sudetie Germans are rapidly increasing) in strength, as witness the dissolution of the German Provisional Party, under Herr Alois Stenzel and its absorption by the Sudetic Party and the merger with the Germaa Agrarian League. In the meantime the Gover! ment, seeking to placate its German population, preparing to grant them proportional representation and a proportion of offices ce sonant with their numerical strength, Will, they be in time to save the integrity of the country? That is the question which is puzzling most of the democracies in Europe, but judging from what Herr Hitler has written, and the manner in which he has! developed that policy with regard to Austria, it may be regarded as extremely doubtful whether the compromise, which the Czechoslovak Government is secking to achieve, will prevent the incorporation of those Germa in the body of the Reich. It is not to be believed that Herr Hitler will accept anything! less, for to do so would be inconsistent with his declared policy and, no matter whatever else he has been guilty of, it can never be said that he has been guilty of inconsistency In considering what Great Britain's position should be with regard to German developments in Czechoslovakia it is necessary to understand the situation in that country. There are three million Germans living in it, chiefly in the northern part, constituting what Herr Hitler once described as a dagger pointed at the heart of Germany. It is quite certain that he intends sooner or later to embody them in the Reich. Should he decide to] follow the lines he took with regard to Austria, and the Czechoslovaks decided to fight, they would be faced with the uncomfortable fact that most if not all of these Germans would side with Germany, and the Czechoslovakian government would find it more than a little difficult to keep them in order on the one hand, and fight Germany on the other. Indeed it would be an impossible ask, and assistance from other count would, in the circumstances, be of no parti cular avail. {tis believed that Herr Hitler contemplates the addition of the territory occupied by these Germans to the Reich, and should this come about by the creation of an intolerable internal situation us happened Austria, then Prague would probably be faced with an ultimatum demanding cantonal reorganization somewhat similar to that prevailing in Switzerland, creating what would amount to Sudeten Germany, pendent of Prague but not of Berlin. turn would mean the reduction of Czechoslovakia, in which President Masaryk and Dr. Benes have succeeded in establishing free citizenship, to a state about the size of Switzerland. Soviet Russia and France have! pledged themselves to prevent this. On the face of it it seems as if any German nov along the lines suggested must inevitably: mean war if those pledges are to be honoured. That, perhaps, may lead to some delay in the fulfilment of Herr Hitler's ambitions, for once! such a war has started it will be almost impossible to prevent it spreading to other ix unbelievable that Der Fuehrer desires war now or future, if he possibly can avoid it, but his determina to bring all Germans within the Reich be doubted Already forecasts are being made as to what Mr. Neville Chamberlain will say on the subject of his foreign policy in the House of Commons to-day. -It is expected that he will Fefuse to enter into any commitments with regard to Czechoslovakia, and if he.does so he will be wise. France and Great Britain had to acquiesce in the annexation of Austria, and it seems that little if anything can be done to maintain the hold of the Czechoslovakia government over the Sudetie Germans under its jurisdiction. The. partition of Europe after the Great War has been demonstrated not to have been a pa Indeed it is clearly proved to have been foolish, for it fett lying about many bones of contention which even now have not yet been Gisposed of. In the circumstances it would not be a. statesmanlike policy to insist on the Derpetuation of @ slate of aifies which as tways been a "source of ititaion,. Tite Cecchoslovakian, Government may succeed persuading the Sdetie Germans to seeept the omoromise which is being suggested. but if thes do, it may reasonably be expected: that it will only postpone the day of reckoning The whole. of Central Europe under Nasi lamination may not prove to be a particularly Pleasing prospect, but some European demo. Gracies at the present time would rather see hat than witness the whole of that vast and important area fall into the hands of the Third International. That would have: been disastrous, and if Herr Hilor in building his bulwark again the" read of Bolshevism restores the whole of the German people to the Reich, i may prove'a very high price to ay for the safely he believes he is giving Europe from that threat, though it cannot be saingaid that the whole of Europe has had plenty of notice of his intentions. It theres fore, Mr. Chamberlain decides to leave it well alone, there will be many wi wil bell he Is following the wiser course. "There ave other and more. important questions tobe ealt with than one of whether oF not three million Germans In Ceacholovaka shall be returned to the Reich,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.