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9/19/38 Update

And so at noon on September 19 the British and French ministers in Prague jointly presented the Anglo-French proposals to the Czech government. They were rejected the next day in a dignified note which explained—prophetically—that to accept them would put Czechoslovakia "sooner or later under the complete domination of Germany." After reminding France of her treaty obligations and also of the consequences to the French position in Europe should the Czechs yield, the reply offered to submit the whole Sudeten question to arbitration under the terms of the German-Czech treaty of October 16, 1925. But the British and French were in no mood to allow such a matter as the sanctity of treaties to interfere with the course they had set. No sooner was the note of rejection received by the Anglo-French envoys in Prague at 5 P.M. on the twentieth than the British minister, Sir Basil Newton, warned the Czech Foreign Minister, Dr. Kamil Krofta, that if the Czech government adhered to it Britain would disinterest herself in the fate of the country. M. de Lacroix, the French minister, associated himself with this statement on behalf of France. In London and Paris, in the meantime, the Czech note was received with ill grace. Chamberlain called a meeting of his inner cabinet and a telephone link with Paris was set up for conversations with Daladier and Bonnet throughout the evening. It was agreed that both governments should subject Prague to further pressure. The Czechs must be told that if they held out they could expect no help from France or Britain.

William L. Shirer, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, Pg. 389-390

"Peace is a very precious thing. It is so precious that it is worth even a sacrifice of principle and even a compromise with honor. The statesman who did not explore every possible means of avoiding the horror of modern war would be false to the great responsibilities of his office."

Reads just like today's anti-Iraq war pansies. They too, will be relegated to the dustbins of history.

As for the Yankees clinching the pennant - their top four starters that year (Lefty Gomez, Red Ruffing, Monte Pearson, and Spud Chandler) accounted for 73 complete games that year. So far this year, there have been only 72 complete games thrown - by the entire American League.

Tragically, had the French just showed a willingness to support the Czech soveriegnty then Hitler would have probably had to back down. The Soviets pledged to back the Czechs if the French honored their commitments to Czechoslovakia.

Russia gave unequivocal pledge of loyalty to Czechs if French did help. (". . . the Czechoslovak Government addressed a formal inquiry to my Government as to whether the Soviet Union is prepared in accordance with the Soviet‑Czech pact, to render Czechoslovakia immediate and effective aid if France, loyal to her obligations, will render similar assistance, to which my Government gave a clear answer in the affirmative." Doc. Int. Affairs 1938, Vol. II, p. 225.) Russia warned Poland not to attack Czechoslovakia. (Lee, p. 340; Survey 1938, Vol. I, p. 696.) - 78th Congress, 2d Session House Document No. 541 "Events Leading up to World War II".