European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 13, 1948, Darmstadt, Hesse                                D Carpi treatment in Moscow ineral Europe Laval Bonnet Flo Munich told and finally Ince itself i Linister Gray january 28, in pact i told if your treat blow to eur Ithal you will further Nugo i and Aid it you abandon c Germany Asi Onist anti with Ger the so called incan Security Eastern front n  implied that the Poland to look and that France land go its own a would Lea Fig of Germany rations against Grzybowski Les knew that against them certainly no added it might Road where Ilion to Poland Ime to prepare calculation was Iny too needed Ansi Onist Mur aided in these let with Poland Long As Poland time prepare july and then Tiller dealt eur blow by re d. Czechoslovak Poland was k March 13. A fully prepared to March alongside France against Germany. We told the French minister in Prague that we would follow France if it decided to. Draw conclusions from Hitler s  had broken the Locarno agree men and its so called Rhine pact which empowered France and England to go to War immediately. The Western democracies could then have stopped Germany and its criminal policies Intima. In my opinion we were bound to March with them and we would have done so. But nothing happened. France thus committed a most fatal error. France failed to act according to the terms of a treaty signed by Ger Rohany negotiated specifically for this very Case. The Western democracies acted with inexplicable weakness in decision and frivolous Jack of  fatal step was the final and direct cause of the collapse and tragedy of France. It was the beginning of Munich and the june 1940 capitulation. In March 1936 France abandoned itself thus it was easier to abandon us i september 1938. With cynical glee Beck s Poland indicated that it was now Clear that the polish pact with Germany had Bee right that France could not defend even itself. And now Poland had already arranged every thing with Germany had again become a great Power in Europe while other Powers must painfully seek its  Yugoslavia there was a Strong movement away from France an Prince Paul and his prime minister Stojadinovic soon utilized the move ment to move closer to Berlin we Felt this very strongly at the beginning of1936, during the Little entente meeting 1 in Bucharest Prince Paul revealed that he was scarcely counting on Western Europe any longer. Romanian policy was seriously affected. The bulgarian fascists were jubilant. And Austria realized very Well. What this successful German move against the West could mean for in Adf March 13.1s4s mediately after it came the destructive work of German nazis in Austria in creasing to such a Pilch that chancello Schuschnigg was forced to sign the notorious agreement with Hitler of july -11, 1936. This was not Only the first blow against austrian Independence but the. Decisive one. It made nazism a Lega movement within Austria and opened the Way for shameless intervention by German nazis in the Domestic affairs of Austria and for the creation of the. First european Quisling. By the internal Nazif cation of Austria Hitler could prepare tranquilly for a bloodless an  Hitler now thought fhe moment was Ripe to go after Czechoslovakia too. He wanted to carry out a Spe Cial operation with a double aim. Inter nationally he. Would offer us a pact similar to the polish Accord drive a wedge Between us and Western Europe Compromise us in the eyes of the soviet Union and so isolate us internationally that we would automatically fall into. The orbit of his , the plan resembled what he had done with Austria. He wanted us to declare nazism Legal in Czechoslovakia. Then under cover of the agreement he would penetrate the ranks of our germans destroy their. Cooperation with the government Naify them completely and then decide on. The course most favourable to Germany. As the first step in realizing this plan covant Trauttmann Dorff approached our Berlin minister in the fall of 1936  him that two. Representatives of Hitler wished to come to Prague an ascertain whether it would be possible to reach a agreement. The whole affair was shrouded in the deepest secrecy. The negotiation was to be solely be tween the two Heads of state. I replied that i would receive them gladly listen to their views and immediately answer their  arrived in Prague november 13. 1936 they were count Trauttmann Dorff a former austrian Noble and once one of our nationals his brother had an estate in Czechoslovakia at Hrachovy. Tyne and or. Haushofer son of the Well known bavarian Geo politician pro-0 Fessor Haushofer who was later executed by the nazis. I told them that i was not oppose to negotiations and that i would Wel come a treaty Between Germany an Czechoslovakia. However i could not express myself concretely until i knew in greater detail the principles on which it. Would be based. I reminded them that although i would not refuse to conduct the negotiations personally if  so desired nevertheless As a constitutional president i could not do so without the foreign minister and i must also inform the prime  also requested the two negotiators not to leave Prague without visiting  Krofta and informing him of. The whole affair. Otherwise of course they could rest assured that the affair would remain strictly  next Day they visited or. Krofta and then returned to  t the beginning of december 1936they asked our Berlin minister to. Arrange another visit to  were received at the Prague Castle just before Christmas on december 18.the discussion was thorough and on my Side very direct. The visit lasted about seven hours arid left me not the slightest doubt As to. What Hitler  and Haushofer presented Hitler s proposal that Ger Many and Czechoslovakia sign a declaration similar to the polish German pact of january 26, 1934, which would place the relations of both countries Onan entirely new footing. It was to state that there would never again be armed conflict Between Czechoslovakia and Germany. It was to include recognition of Czechoslovakia s frontiers. Germany they said asked nothing More than that the germans in Czecho Slovakia obtain some sort of cultural autonomy and be allowed to. Declare and freely cultivate their  they received this then Germany would have no interest in supporting the desires of our German political leaders for territorial  explained to them in detail the problem of our. Germans what rethought about it and How we wanted to solve it what our germans already had and what they perhaps still lacked what rights they had and in what Way they and their friends in Germany continued on Page 22 my last 14 Days a a " " in Prague.  a Pavel Tigrid a Newspaperman who got out of the country a few hours ahead of the communist coup tells of his final Days in the czechoslovak capital the author of the following article was editor in chief of the Prague daily newspaper Lido a Demok Racie As Well As All the other people s party papers in Czecho Slovakia two weeks before none of us Wouldhave dreamed a crisis was in the making and even As we sat in my office at one of Prague s Many Lovely squares we were not sure How far the communists would go. It was fairly latin the. Evening. The Day was Friday february 20, 1948. The atmosphere was tense. Reports came in telling of wild communist attacks on leaders of czech democratic  of preparations for a meeting of a Large Trade Union Congress which the communists were calling for sunday. Nobody knew what was going to happen and the predictions made by the four political friends sitting in my office differed violently. I am telling you said the chair Man of the youth movement of the people s party that the. Communists will try by All Means to come into Power. They know  that they redoing to lose heavily in the next elections and they must do something about it. I think we Are bound for  i disagree retorted a Young journalist one of the Many arrested in the very first Days of the Putsch. I Dis agree on solid grounds. No doubt the communists would like to come inf Power before the May elections. But they must get an o. K. From  go ahead with a Putsch. According. To my information Moscow is not in. Lined to give such an o. K. Just now. Stalin and Molotov have other things to do and remember that the Kremlin suffered recently Many setbacks in it aggressive Balkan policy. No i am con. Vinced that we re still  and what about Zorin asked George a Young democratic member of the parliament who spent nearly the whole War in a. German concentration Camp. Do you believe for a moment that idiotic official statement that Zorin came especially from Moscow to super Vise soviet Grain deliveries since when does a High official of the soviet ministry of foreign affairs come to supervise in deliveries and Why Doe she come to Prague when the trains with soviet Grain arrive in the Eastern parts of the country no my dear sirs Zorin brought with him orders from Moscow. I think that the local communists will take up the Kremlin s  " " i was at the Airfield yesterday afternoon remarked the. Youth move ment chairman. Zorin stepped smiling and Happy out of the red plane. He had a huge Brief Case full of papers under his Arm and the czech communists greeted him with  most of the guests in my office that evening agreed that Zorin brought news from Moscow which was no doubt badness for czech democracy. Only the Young reporter maintained that the time was not yet Ripe either for the Prague communists or for Moscow. The conversation went on and argument Fol Lowed argument. The clock on the Church opposite struck nine. I looked into the Square. It was lighted up Menand women hurried peacefully and quietly Home. I  and suddenly realize that something was sure to happen. I arrived in my Fiat at the outskirts of. The City at ten thirty. My wife was worried and urged me to think about the future. I was known As a demo cratic journalist strongly anti Corn Junist and my position was not enviable. I listened to the news and gently stroked my dog an Irish Kerry Blue when an idea came to me. I remembered that for some time  been preparing a news coverage trip to Germany on behalf of my papers. I d had to postpone it for various reasons several times but my passport and my military permits were still valid. I made a Quick decision. I rang up my colleague Eduarto Bauer who was to accompany me on this trip and whose documents were also in order and told him we would Start the next morning at five my car adjust been repaired arid it ran smoothly. I made last arrangements with my office and announced that i was going for a week or so to Western Germany my wife prepared my Luggage several shirts a few socks and two  she nor i realized at the time that i would be in need of much More clothing. I. The next morning was cold and in Friendly Bauer and i drove through the 3ark and quiet streets of Prague. Few people were to be seen. At Street Corners policemen. Two by two marched slowly. They were the Only sign that there was. Tension in the old City  we. Passed the president s Castle High above the River. The presidential Flag blew in the wind. I did not realize then that i was t going to see it again for a Long time to come. The journey to the Frontier was pleasant  both occupants of the car were silent. I was driving and Bauer. Was Reading the morning papers which said that the communists had made Many threats. When we got to the Frontier at a pleasant Little town undercover of Snow and bathed in Sunshine we chose a quiet crossing where we knew there would be Only a handful of officials of the Good old. Guard. Your passports please asked the elderly customs official. Journalists hey what Are you going to do in Ger Many / just look around said Bauer i know your names said the official Don t think the communists like you very  suppose not answered Baue casually. Of. K. Go ahead said the official and gave an order to have the Barrier  after a few formalities with the american Border guards we were in Germany. I looked Back and saw behind the Barrier a strip of my. Country. It was a strange feeling. I shuddered and nearly had tears in my eyes. Yet i did t know  hours later the czech Frontier was sealed. Every citizen who intended to leave the country had to get a special permit such was the order of the communist minister of the Interior. Members of the army and police Force mostly communists were sent As a special division of selected men to guar the czech German Frontier. The Putsch was in full  sunday night the communist police woke up my wife searched my Flat and interrogated my friends. They had come to arrest me As they had Romany hundreds of others professors students writers journalists politicians members of parliament All the men and women who were guilty of love for Freedom and democracy. My. Office was searched the next Day my weekly papers were suppressed my friends among them George were arrested. Nobody knew Why. I am Safe but i think All the Tim of Why friends my wife and All those who Are being persecuted today by those who Learned a lot from the nazis. And i Promise that one Day these people will pay for their deeds. Evil must lose in the end. So will this evil