STRATEGY AND CZECHOSLOVAKIA
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.]
Slit,—In a letter entitled " Strategy and Czechoslovakia " which you printed in your last issue, Mr. Horder criticised the Government for not assuring Czechoslovakia of our aid if she were to be attacked. By confining its obligations to existing treaties, the Government has recognised where the true interests of this country lie. It may not be in our interest for Germany to become too powerful, but we cannot expect our soldiers and sailors to lay down their lives for some central European State. Many of Mr. Horder's fellow recruits will not know where Czechoslovakia is, and I am sure that they will have no inclination to fight for it. Mr. Horder complains that the Government has not secured the alliance of Czecho- slovakia in time of war with Germany. Surely he realises that if we were to be drawn into a war against Germany it would be on the side of the " democratic " Powers ; thus we should be assured of the valuable (?) strategical position that she commands in operations against our enemy, without committing ourselves to the dangers of an unknown policy or without binding the Government's successors to carry it out in unforeseen circumstances; He also claims that Czecho- slovakia should be our ally because of her value as a " stepping stone " between Russia and France. This is a problem belonging to French foreign policy, and has been dealt with.
It has nothing to do with us. Mr. Horder may feel broken- hearted by watching what he calls the vacillation of the Government ; many would feel so if they thought that the Government would squander the country's resources in defence of a Czech majority.—I am, Sir, yours faithfully, Maiden Erlegh, nr. Reading, Berks.
JOHN E. SAYWELLS.
Previous page
