Beneš Returns to Europe

The Former President Eduard Beneš resigned on October 6th. He then left for Chicago, Illinois, United States. This is also the place where his predecessor Tomáš Masaryk saught refuge. It was there that he was encouraged to create a Government-in-Exile.

He went to Paris but then travelled on to London when it appeared the French Government was lukewarm about hosting a Government-in-Exile. In London, he and his wife Hana were more warmly received. Yesterday, the President formally established a Government-in-Exile in Putney, London. His residence is believed to be on Gwendolen Avenue.

He has yet to name other members of the government.

Czechoslovakia complies

Preceding the Munich conference, the Czechoslovakian people would say "Even if our allies fail us, no matter if we are left to face overwhelming odds and certain defeat, nevertheless Czechoslovakia will fight rather than yield!"

Newly installed Prime Minister General Jan Syrový said in a nationwide broadcast "As soldier and as Premier ... I am passing through the saddest moment of my life, for I am fulfilling a most painful duty, a duty which for me is worse than death. . . . We were confronted with a choice between desperate and hopeless defense, which would have meant the sacrifice of our whole younger generation, their children and their wives, and acceptance of the conditions imposed on us under pressure and without war, which in their mercilessness are unexampled in history. There are smaller states than ours that lead healthy existences. . . . We shall be within narrow frontiers, but we shall be all together in one family! . . . Our army will stand guard over the nation as before. . . . Trust us!"

The soldiers, as they withdrew, gave bystanders dark scowls and muttered oaths, the Czech officers avoided meeting civilian eyes, discharged their bitter duty with compressed lips. Nazi folk of the Sudeten town of Cesky Krumlov were the first Germans to dishonor themselves by opening dastardly fire upon the retreating Czech soldiers' backs. These Sudetens were also the first to smash windows and pillage shops and homes owned by Czechs, Jews and non-Nazi Sudetens such as Communists, Socialists and Social Democrats. Such outrages were not typical but exceptional, according to latest dispatches. The German army entered those parts of Czechoslovakia which it is to take over progressively by October 10 in the same peaceful fashion as it entered Austria, was cheered last week by civilians.

The German troops, ordered to swing across the frontier at three different points between Helfenberg and Finsterau at 2 PM. precisely, had set their legs in motion on German soil at 1:58 PM by the wrist watch of their commander, Colonel General Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb. They entered first that part of the Bohemian Forest in which Schiller laid his play The Robbers. Since in these rustic parts there were no accommodations deemed suitable for high officers, these, on the first night, left their German troops sleeping in tents or peasant huts, themselves returned to sleep in hotels in Germany, hurried back next morning into Sudetenland.

Fifty-eight hours after the German Army, Dictator Hitler entered Czechoslovakia under a drizzling rain this week. Every German car on this road which might possibly have contained the Führer had been wildly cheered by Sudetens for hours beforehand, and when Adolf Hitler finally reached Eger, "The Sudeten Capital," its throngs were both hoarse and hysterical. It was less than seven months since Austrians had similarly welcomed "our Deliverer," and the Führer seemed much moved as he made what was for him an exceptionally humble speech: "In this hour I want to thank the Almighty for having blessed us in the past, and to pray that He may also bless us in the future. . . . Germany is happy! . . . All are comrades ready to stake their lives for each other. . . . Over this greater German Reich is laid a German shield protecting it and a German sword defending it!"

"Vote for the Fatherland!" In Prague, although the sweeping catastrophe was obvious, editors took up the task of putting as bright an aspect on the situation as they could. The optimistic vigor of President Beneš remained dauntless. As the Chief Executive, he at once turned on every organ of propaganda and reassurance to persuade Czech refugees from areas in which plebiscites are to be held to return to the homes from which they fled under Nazi threats and "Vote for the Fatherland!"

Everywhere food was still plentiful in the land, much more so than in Germany, and there was no break in the amazing Czech morale, which endured nearly 400 years of oppression under Habsburg masters. With backhanded cheerfulness, the Narodni Listy reminded its readers: ''The history of the Czechs is almost an uninterrupted tragedy!"

Beneš Resigns

As a protest to the loss of the Sudeten and Teschen, President Eduard Beneš has resigned and left Czecho-Slovakia. Political problems continue for the Czecho-Slovakian government in the wake of the Munich Agreement. The Future of the nation is unclear. The Military has stood down and is not interfering with the German taking of the Sudetenland.

The Celebrations continue in Sudeten.

Sudeten Germans welcome Nazis & Wehrmacht

After the Munich Agreement on September 30th, the already mobilized German Army began moving into the country. One of the first towns taken has been Eger, the site of much fighting in late September between Czechoslovakian troops and Nazi sympathizers.

The Czech people have much to be sad about. They lose 3.5 million citizens but also has lost 70% of its iron and steel, 70% of its electrical power and the famous Škoda Works. Even the very name of the young state has been changed: Czecho-Slovakia.

President Benes has had the the military print the march orders for his army and put the press on standby for a declaration of war. The nation is not giving in quite as easily as the major European powers would like.

Sudeten Germans have been jubilant and celebratory since the Munich Agreement was announced. Seemingly from nowhere Nazi flags and banners bearing the red, black and white colors and Swastika appeared in windows, on homes, businesses and on streetpoles. Children have notably been excited and have not been in schools since the announcement.

Two days ago Hitler marched unopposed into the Sudetenland. He said that it was the start of a 1000-year German Reich.

Polish troops continue to occupy Teschen as well.

Czechoslovakian Anger

Czechoslovakia has reacted largely with anger and disbelief. The President Eduard Beneš has protested the agreement which was made without Czechoslovakian input. British Prime Minister Chamberlain has told the President that if the country chose to fight Germany for the Sudetenland, they would have to do so without British support.



The people of Prague gathered to protest the sacrifice of their lands, economy and people for Appeasement.

New Czechoslovakian Government

In response to Hitler's demands on September 22nd, a new cabinet has been installed in the Czechoslovakian government. President Beneš installed General Jan Syrový as Prime Minister after the resignation of Milan Hodza. He has also ordered a mobilization.

Hodza Resigns

Premier Milan Hodza has stepped down and the cabinet has been dissolved. This is a reaction to the capitulation to Germany's demands for the Sudetenland.

Chamberlain visits with Hitler; Henlein's Flight

The Prime Minister of Great Britain, Neville Chamberlain met with German Chancellor Adolf Hitler in Bertesgaden, near Munich in Southern Germany on September 15th. There the two leaders will discuss ways to end this crisis before it erupts into war.

But not before all talks between Henlein and the Czechoslovakian Government completely end. Sudeten Party leader Konrad Helein had laid out an ultimatum to rescind Martial Law, recall the reserves to their barracks, withdraw the state police from the territory, and accept this by midnight or all negotiations would be called off. When his demands were not met, he fled to Germany.

With all this continuing to worsen, Nazi radio and Czechoslovakian radio transmissions have been having their own war of words. Even Hungary has joined in and reiterated Germany's narrative on events. Czechoslovakian radio continues to refute the claims made by Germany.

Martial Law in Sudetenland

It seemed the crisis was averted until Hitler's speech on the 12th. No the Sudeten Germans are up in arms once more. President Beneš has imposed martial law in response to the increased agitation. There has also been a recall of Czechoslovak reservists in light of this change of events.

Beneš appeals to the World for Peace

Czechoslovakian President Eduard Beneš made an appeal via Radio Broadcast asking for peace and calm in the face of this crisis. He also told the Czechoslovakian people that they would be "firm and have faith in our state, in its health and its strength, in the indestructible spirit and devotion of its people."

Impasse!

Talks between the Czechoslovakian Government and Henlein's Sudeten Party have broken down. Of course, negotiations still continue between Great Britain and Czechoslovakia. Germany is staying somewhat quiet. In the coming days, there will be a Congress of the Nazi Party in Nuremberg.

German Sudetens protest

In response to the plan put forth by the Czechoslovakian Government, many of the Sudeten Germans who agree with Konrad Henlein, protested. However, what is Plan No. 4?

Plan No. 4 adds both financial and political concessions such as "states rights to minorities in Sudeten. President Beneš offered to lend a billion Czechoslovak koruny ($35,000,000) "on the most favorable terms" to stimulate industry in Czechoslovak districts now suffering from unemployment, with 700,000,000 koruny earmarked for Sudeten districts. Britain and France stood ready to lend this money to Czechoslovakia, it was understood in Prague, and Dr. Beneš clearly hoped many observers of the Sudeten Germans had been right in reporting recently that what they want is a return to prosperity, not Germany.
Plan No. 4 went further than Plan No. 3 in offering Sudeten Germans and other minority peoples State jobs (including "irremovable judgeships") in the same proportion as their numbers bear to the total population of Czechoslovakia. Moreover, each ministry of the Czechoslovak Cabinet would have a separate "section" corresponding to each minority, and each section would be headed by a member of that minority to guard its interests. As the most fateful concession of Plan No. 4, Dr. Beneš offered that in each minority canton the preservation of order should be "divided" between Federal gendarmerie in the countryside and town police of the Sudeten German or other minority faction.

In Germany, every paper printed atrocity stories describing how a Sudeten German Nazi Deputy had been "horsewhipped" by a Czech mounted policeman at the industrial town of Moravská Ostrava. Mounted police had tried to disperse a Sudeten German crowd which had gathered to demand immediate release from jail of 82 persons arrested for possessing arms smuggled from Germany. The prisoners were charged with preparing to organize an attack from the rear upon troops defending the Czechoslovak frontier in case of war. One blow from a riding crop was afterward proved to have struck, without injuring, a man who turned out to be a Sudeten Deputy. Next day the Czech mounted policeman responsible and two others were withheld from duty by Police Chief Baca, who then suspended himself for good measure. But by this time, German papers were well started on a flood of stories under such scareheads as SAVAGE HORSEWHIPPING OF SUDETEN DEPUTY BY BESTIAL CZECH OFFICER.

The No. 1 Sudeten, Konrad Henlein, was at Nürnberg with Hitler, but in Prague the No. 2 Sudeten, Ernst Kundt, tersely announced that "satisfactory amends" had been made at Moravská Ostrava and he then withdrew the Sudeten Party's previous refusal to negotiate on the basis of Plan No. 4. Obviously they were tempted by the 700,000,000 koruny—for there are only 3,500,000 Sudeten Germans.

Smart Dr. Beneš, although relying on money to do some talking in a situation basically desperate, fully realized that Plan No. 4 impressed millions of Czechoslovaks, apart from the Sudeten Germans, as offering such extreme concessions that it imperiled the State. If accepted, Plan No. 4 risks turning every Cabinet ministry into a debating club of minority groups. How democratic Czech gendarmes and totalitarian Nazi police can "divide" responsibility for keeping of order in Sudeten cantons was an unanswered question. In an impossible situation, under crushing British pressure to concede without limit, President Beneš had conceded so much that he realized some of his own people were becoming scared. To reassure the nation, Dr. Beneš went on the air with a calm, firm and tactful broadcast, only a few minutes after he learned that in a speech at Nuremberg General Göring had just gone out of his way to abuse the culture and traditions of the Czechoslovak Republic.

Plan No. 4

Czechoslovakian President Eduard Beneš submitted a fourth plan to the Czechoslovakian Government on September 2nd. Now, the government has submitted this to the British.

Roughly, the plan would accede the Sudeten to Germany due to the high amount of Germans in the region. Czechoslovakia has said that ceding this land would cripple the country economically and would put the nation effectively under German control.

Plan No. 3

In Washington, anxious Assistant Secretary of State George S. Messersmith repeatedly crawled out of bed around 4 AM to hear by transatlantic telephone what U. S. Ambassadors in Europe could tell him about whether Adolf Hitler was going to hurl the German Army into Czechoslovakia.

The danger of war was not acute enough to keep Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain in London. With his fishing rods and guns sticking ostentatiously out of his limousine, Mr. Chamberlain left for Scotland to play trout streams and shoot grouse with King George. Lloyd's pointed out in London last week that, although they stopped writing war-risk insurance on British property some months ago, and although they have been unwilling to cover either the risk of war breaking out in Europe or of Franklin Roosevelt announcing he will seek a Third Term, they were still quoting cargo insurance at far below "wartime rates." Thus, although the rate on South African copper shipped to Germany was raised last week from .025% to .125% the latter figure spells "Peace" in comparison with the 42% premium charged on shipments bound for war-torn Spain.

Up and down Europe a new factor working for peace was sighted by anxious millions in the behavior last week of U. S. Ambassadors. In London, after the British Cabinet had reviewed the Czechoslovak situation for nearly three hours, U. S. Ambassador Joseph Patrick Kennedy was invited in for an hour's conference. Next day Mr. Kennedy was back in Downing Street, conferring this time with Foreign Secretary Viscount Halifax, and red-ink London placards shrieked this as good news. Mr. Kennedy, interviewed by transatlantic telephone, told the Hearst Boston American, ''No war is going to break out during the rest of 1938."

The Soviet Union and the French met and discussed the situation, while in Prague the British mediator, Viscount Runciman, at last had ready a third series of proposed concessions to the Sudeten Germans known as Czechoslovak Premier Dr. Milan Hodza's "Plan No. 3." This had been secretly flown over for the inspection of the British Cabinet and secretly flown back to Prague by Mr.

Frank Trelawny Arthur Aston-Gwatkin, Lord Runciman's Man Friday. It was taken by Sudeten German Führer Konrad Henlein to Berchtesgaden last week and there laid before the German Führer. Details were kept secret but it was understood that Plan No. 3 embodied these main points: 1) a three-month truce to be declared, to give time for much further negotiation between the Sudeten Germans, the Czechoslovak Government and other interested parties; 2) Czechoslovakia to become after these negotiations a Federal State composed of Gaue or "Cantons" modeled on the Swiss Federal State, whose structure has often been compared to that of the U. S. The Sudetens complain this would give their Gaue only a rough equivalent to American States' rights, whereas they have demanded "autonomy" comparable to British dominion status.

Viscount Runciman's entourage began complaining fortnight ago that they have found Konrad Henlein nothing but a "straw man," and last week the Sudeten Führer went to Berchtesgaden only to take the orders of his boss, Führer Hitler—for the fourth time this year.

Present with the No. 1 Nazi were No. 2 Nazi Göring, No. 3 Nazi Goebbels and Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop, who arrived from Berlin with what was said to be a personal piece of advice to Adolf Hitler from Neville Chamberlain.

This had been verbally delivered in Berlin by the British Ambassador, Sir Nevile Henderson, who brought it by air from London. As Sir Nevile was leaving Croydon, he added an E. Phillips Oppenheim touch by portentously remarking to cameramen : "You had better be quick—this is the last chance you'll get."

Henlein, after four hours' conference with Hitler, returned to his home in the village of As. Three days later one fact seemed obvious: the "strawman" had been instructed to reject Plan No. 3, to compromise on nothing, to hold out for full, unqualified Sudeten autonomy. The Czech Cabinet then met with President Benes and drafted its "last" offer to which a response was expected from Dictator Hitler this week in one of his numerous speeches at the Nazi Party Congress in Nuremberg.

Meanwhile, local bigwigs of the Sudeten German Party were reported from Czechoslovakia as be ginning to show signs of fear lest they be thrust aside by Nazis from Germany, much as in Vienna the Austrian Nazis have lost all the biggest plums to German Nazis. Supplementing cables to this effect was a statement by pro-Czech Chairman George Boochever of the American-Czechoslovak Chamber of Commerce, who stepped off the Dutch liner Nieuw Amster dam in Manhattan. "In my talks with Sudeten Germans," said Mr. Boochever, "I gained the impression that they had no real wish to be annexed to Germany. . . . I think Henlein is but the mouthpiece for Hitler's views and if it were not for the propaganda and subsidies from Germany received by Henlein and his group there would be no agitation. . . ."

Lord Runciman meets Konrad Henlein

Viscount Runciman had been 15 days in Czechoslovakia without meeting Konrad Henlein, who thought his prestige would be enhanced if he made the British lord call on him. This, the Viscount had refused to do, but in last week's emergency Lord Runciman consented to motor from Prague into the Sudeten Nazi territory and meet Herr Henlein in the castle of Prince Max von Hohenlohe, whose lands extend right up to the German frontier.

Prince Max, although ardently pro-German, keeps his fingers crossed, has a passport which makes him a subject of the Principality of Liechtenstein. Last week he mobilized his villagers, his gamekeepers, his servants and his toddling infants, all of whom gave the Nazi salute as Lord Runciman arrived in formal black jacket, wing collar and black bat tie. Herr Henlein turned up in brown tweed coat, grey flannel slacks and white shoes. Present was the German agent known as "Princess Steffi," who generally operates in London. There she has been hostess to Herr Henlein and to Adolf Hitler's personal agent, Captain Wiedemann (TIME, Aug. 1). From the castle windows the conferees could see the Sudeten Mountains and the German frontier, patrolled unceasingly before their eyes by fighting planes of Czechoslovakia and the Reich. The meeting lasted from 12:30 to 5:45.

Diplomatic rumor had it that "Henlein showed himself most intransigent." But shortly thereafter Herr Henlein assembled his lieutenants in the Hotel Veimar in Marienbad. There he outlined the Sudeten demands anew, clarified along lines suggested by Lord Runciman. Meanwhile, to make the clamorous Henlein minority perhaps less intransigent, Premier Hodza soon after announced he would give choice political plums to Sudeten Germans by appointing them to seven large postmasterships, a district public works superintendency, two district governorships, more jobs in the railroad administration.

Lord Runciman meets with German Sudeten Party members

Konrad Henlein, the Sudeten German Führer, sent only subordinates to confer with the Viscount. The consideration with which he treated them was considered spectacular. Lord Runciman's program included 20-minute formal calls on President Eduard Beneš and Premier Milan Hodza; two lengthy conferences with henchmen of Henlein, the second lasting until 2 am; next day lunch with Dr. & Mme Beneš; a short conference at his hotel with non-Nazi Czech Germans.

On the third day the British mediator uncorked his first proposal. He declared that before he could attempt to advise he must understand the problems of Czechoslovakia, must study them for at least a fortnight. Therefore, he proposed that the Government and the Sudetens stop negotiating while he studied. To this provisional Pax Runciman they agreed. Instead of discussing the disputed Minorities Statute, the Czechoslovak Parliament met for only 20 minutes—its first meeting since the war crisis was averted on May 21 —then meekly adjourned indefinitely.

Meanwhile, tourist travel to Prague picked up magically overnight. Tourists wolfed tasty Prager ham and downed it with Pilsner beer, convinced that they were safe so long as The Man With the Wrinkled Brow continues his studies.

When U. S. Ambassador to Germany Hugh Wilson, an ace career diplomat, suddenly flew to Prague on what he carefully described as "just a holiday visit" to his friend U. S. Minister to Czechoslovakia Wilbur J. Carr, Czechs were delighted.

They thought his coming was a friendly gesture by President Roosevelt and the State Department, a nudging reminder from Washington to London that the bulk of U. S. public opinion would not be favorable to a Runciman Report so couched as to sell Czechoslovakia down the river. Private Person Wilson was soon received by President Beneš and Premier Hodza, had a talk with Private Person Runciman, insisted he was only vacationing.

Lord Runciman remains in Prague

---From the New York Times---

While Viscount Runciman’s staff continues to work in close contact with the Henlein party leaders, the British negotiator in the Czech-Sudeten German dispute confined himself today to purely formal visits.

In the morning he received Premier Milan Hodza and Foreign Minister Kamil Krofta, who were returning the calls he paid on them yesterday. At noon he and Lady Runciman lunched with President Eduard Benes and his wife at Hradschin palace. At Lord Runciman’s wish the luncheon was entirely private.

In the afternoon Lord Runciman received a deputation of German Activists – who support the republic – consisting of Wenzel Jakach, Herr Taub and Herr Rehward. The interview lasted only half an hour, in contrast with the hour and a half the Henleinist leaders spent with Lord Runciman yesterday, followed by a late night conference with his staff.

These meetings were held at the Alcron Hotel. Tomorrow the Henleinist leaders again will have long conferences with Lord Runciman’s staff.

Last night they put forward the sensational demands advanced by Konrad Henlein in his Karlsbad speech April 24, when he proclaimed himself and his movement purely Nazi. The Henleinist delegates further explained to Lord Runciman’s staff the meaning of the party’s memorandum embodying most of the Karlsbad demands that was presented to the government June 7.

Incidentally, it is reported that the Committee of Political Ministers is drawing up an answer to the Henlein party’s memorandum.

The German Activist representatives deliberately refrained from bombarding Lord Runciman with documentary propaganda. They left it entirely to the British negotiator to say whether or not he wished further contact with them and advice from them. They told him that if he wished to hear the democratic German viewpoint they would be glad to draw up a memorandum next week and he requested that they do so.

They further offered to show him any industrial center in the Sudeten area that he wished to see, to enable him to “see for himself that the Sudeten Germans can do a good day’s hard work as well as conduct political agitation.”

Lord Runciman thanked them and said that he would consider their suggestion when he drew up his program of visits.

Lord Runciman is leaving Prague for a week-end in the Sudeten area and it is understood that he will pay a personal visit to a big German landowner. His staff refused all information tonight as to whom he would visit.

The German press and radio propaganda campaign in connection with the flight of two Czech planes over Glatz in German territory Wednesday is described as the most violent of all those launched against this country, not excepting the campaign in the days preceding May 21, when Czechoslovakia called reserves to the border.

The press reminds Germany that there have been many cases of German pilots flying as far as Pilsen without any Czech press campaign being launched against Germany. It is a fact the there are constant violations of the Czech frontier by German planes, which it is thought wiser here not to make the subject of protests nor even to allow mentioned [sic] in the press.

The extraordinary violence of the present German campaign gives rise to suspicions that there is truth in reports of large military concentrations around Glatz that have been received here in the last week.

Glatz is situated in a German “peninsula” almost entirely surrounded by Czechoslovak territory and it is quite conceivable that pilots flying over Czechoslovakia could make a mistake and cross the German line there.

The Prague radio replied to the German propaganda tonight in the form of an official communiqué giving three cases in which German pilots, giving the same excuse as the Germans refused to accept in the Galtz case – poor visibility – actually landed in Czechoslovak reserved military areas during the last two months.