* * * The Czechoslovak Elections In one important respect
the municipal elections in Czecho- slovakia have greatly strengthened the Government's position. The victory of the National coalition over Father Hlinka's Slovak Autonomist party has amply confirmed the Govern- ment's right to speak for a united Czechoslovak people. Herr Henlein's success was no greater than was to be expected ; but if there is any criticism to be made of the conduct of the elections, it is that Germans loyal to the Czechoslovak Govern- ment were not given adequate protection against terrorisation by the Henlein party. Herr Henlein's representatives and the Government are now discussing the details of the Nationality Statute, which, it is reported, will be presented to Parliament in the middle of July, and it is probable that the minorities problem will once more become acute and critical at that time. Whether Herr Henlein accepts the Statute or not, it will become law ; and perhaps the greatest danger which faces the Czechoslovak Government is that the Statute, when actually applied, may prov,e to be more difficult to reconcile with the safety of the State as a whole than, is apparent on paper. The Government has been pressed, in the interests of European peace, to go as far as possible in making concessions. It has loyally followed that advice. In doing so it has run great risks and everyone must admire the calm and confidence with which it faces the future.
