CAN CZECHOSLOVAKIA LIVE ?
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR] SIR,—Mr. Ralph Parker, in his letter published in The Spectator of October 28th and dealing with my article " Can Czecho- slovakia Live ? " admits that the country economically is now completely within the German orbit. This and a sober explanation of why Czechoslovakia in her present state, caused by injustice, is not fit to live, were the only line of my article. It was written in order to make the reader realise facts. It was not meant to discuss the political roots of the terrible situation forced on the Czech people against their own will, nor to question the high degree of democratic fighting spirit of Masaryk's and Dr. Bones' nation. The latter points seem to me, and probably to anyone who has observed the Czechs
in the last years and especially during the crisis, beyond any doubt.
This brave and at heart democratic nation is now brought by force under a Fascist regime by their new masters in Prague and Berlin, who want them to reconstruct a new State with no other destiny but that of being a German colony.
No less than 4o per cent. of Czechoslovakia's tax revenues have been lost merely by the cession of territory to Germany and Poland, according to a recent statement of Dr. K alf us the Prague Minister of Finance. The new frontiers with
Hungary once having been fixed, this loss of revenues will certainly be no less than so per cent. and probably much more. On the other hand, the State expenses for reconstructing communications and solving unemployment problems, as well as several other burdens, will rise to a considerably higher level than before the country's dismemberment.
Such items, in addition to many others, are facts to be realised. Explaining these facts, the tragic consequences of Munich, in my opinion never means blaming the Czechs for a development they have tried to prevent by all means— without success against stronger forces who decided the fate of their country.—Yours sincerely, GERHARD SCHACHER. London, W.C. 2.
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