THE OTHER DAY
By JAN MASARYK
THE other day an Englishman said to me at luncheon: " I know how you must feel, but believe me when I tell you that the occupation of Bohemia and Moravia or a simi- larly drastic action was essentially necessary to make a real impression on the lethargic public opinion of this country and to make us wake up to the facts of the situation. Your country has rendered us a great service." Sur ce I had another helping of raspberries (home-grown).
The other day I met a German friend who is supposed to be very well informed indeed. Said he: " If I did believe in reincarnation, I certainly would know that the Fiihrer is the reincarnation of Frederick the Great. He is the greatest soldier-diplomat we have had since Frederick the Great. It is miraculous how quickly he mastered the art of soldiery and strategy. The occupation of Bohemia and Moravia was a strategic necessity, long ago decided upon by the Fiihrer. At least 4o divisions would have been neces- sary to deal with Czecho-Slovakia, and zo even after the Sudetenland had been cut off. Moravia and Slovakia are essential as a stepping-off place against Poland. Of course Munich was just a subterfuge." (My friend used the ex- pression " Augenauswischerei.") " Nothing ever did and never will interfere with the Fiihrer's military plans once he makes up his mind. Naturally we must have Danzig and the Corridor and Upper Silesia, and we shall. We also must have an absolutely free hand in Central Europe and the Balkans. Italy on the other hand will be given a free hand in Africa to compensate her for the German drive to the Mediterranean. If your people (meaning Czechs) ever try any funny business it will be suppressed with utmost ruthlessless—that I know for a fact." Refreshed and enlightened I proceeded on my way.
The other day I met an old Hungarian friend and asked him whether Hungary was not looking at what is left of Slovakia as the next addition to the lands of the Crown of Saint Stephen. Said he: "Not for a long time. We want the Slovaks to have a good dose of the Germans first. Before long the Germans will succeed (as only they know how) in making themselves thoroughly hated, and some day our chance will come. You (meaning the Czechs) have done more for Slovakia and Sub-Carpathia (where my informant has been recently) than Hungary would have done in a century—so why should we hurry?" Having delivered himself of these words of wisdom my friend left me to my own thoughts. (I am a Slovak on my father's side.) The other day, walking down Piccadilly, I recognised a familiar figure—a friend from Prague whom I have known for many, many years. I rushed up to him and touched his shoulder. He looked at me, turned white and said: " For God's sake go away, I have reason to believe that I am being watched by the Germans." I walked up Half Moon Street wondering what next.
These are experiences of the past two weeks.
In Prague, while everything is being stolen that the gangsters, calling themselves Protectors, can lay their hands on (they are even trying to steal the soul of my people, in which they are having no success whatever, thank God), a week of German culture was held. Hacha and the rest of the poor Czech dignitaries had to attend. Mozart and Schubert was played to S.S. and S.A. in uniform—our people have no uniform, it has been stolen by the Germans.
Himmler has recently visited Prague and the terror has increased to a still less human pitch. Himmler is treading where good King Wenceslaus once did. European moral and ethical gilt-edged securities have reached an unprece- dentedly low level.
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