Posted on 03/17/2009 5:43:48 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson
Even Hitler's destruction of Czechoslovakia apparently had not awakened the British ambassador to the nature of the government he was accredited to, nor did he seem aware of what was happening that day to the government which he represented.
For, suddenly and unexpectedly, Neville Chamberlain, on March 17, two days after Hitler extinguished Czechoslovakia, had experienced a great awakening. It had not come without some prodding. Greatly to his surprise, most of the British press (even the Times, but not the Daily Mail) and the House of Commons had reacted violently to Hitler's latest aggression. More serious, many of his own backers in Parliament and half of the cabinet had revolted against any further appeasement of Hitler. Lord Halifax, especially, as the German ambassador informed Berlin, had insisted that the Prime Minister recognize what had happened and abruptly change his course, It dawned on Chamberlain that his own position as head of government and leader of the Conservative Party was in jeopardy.
His radical change of mind came abruptly, As late as the evening of March 16, Sir John Simon, on behalf of the government, had made a speech in the Commons which was so cynical in regard to the Czechs, and so much in the "Munich spirit," that according to press accounts it aroused the House to "a pitch of anger rarely seen." The next day, on the eve of his seventieth birthday, Chamberlain was scheduled to make a speech in his home city of Birmingham. He had drafted an address on domestic matters with special emphasis on the social services. On the afternoon train going up to Birmingham, according to an account given this writer by French diplomatic sources, Chamberlain finally made his decision. He jettisoned his prepared speech and quickly jotted down notes for one of quite a different kind.
To all of Britain and indeed to large parts of the world, for the speech was broadcast, Chamberlain apologized, for "the very restrained and cautious . . . somewhat cool and objective statement" which he had felt obliged to make in the Commons two days before. "I hope to correct that statement tonight," he said.
The Prime Minister at last saw that Adolf Hitler had deceived him. He recapitulated the Fuehrer's various assurances that the Sudetenland had been his last territorial demand in Europe and that he "wanted no Czechs." Now Hitler had gone back on them—"he has taken the law into his own hands."
Now we are told that this seizure of territory has been necessitated by disturbances in Czechoslovakia. ... If there were disorders, were they not fomented from without? ... Is this the end of an old adventure or is it the beginning of a new? Is this the last attack upon a small State or is it to be followed by others? Is this, in effect, a step in the direction of an attempt to dominate the world by force? . . . While I am not prepared to engage this country by new and unspecified commitments operating under conditions which cannot now be foreseen, yet no greater mistake could be made than to suppose that because it believes war to be a senseless and cruel thing, this nation has so lost its fiber that it will not take part to the utmost of its power in resisting such a challenge if it ever were made.
I’ve been enjoying these posts. Seeing the Neville Chamerlain/Hitler fiasco unfold is very interesting. Also Interesting is the other editorial about the printing of fiat money. My, how much worse things are now in that regard.
Ping. More information at Reply #2
Czechs Under Absolute German Rule - Mar 17, 1939
Article 1 – 1. The parts of the former Czechoslovak Republic occupied by the German troops in March 1939 belong from now on to the territory of the Great German Reich and enter under its protection as the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia”.
OTHER ARRANGEMENTS
2. So far as the defence of the Reich demands it, the Fuehrer and Chancellor will make other arrangements for certain parts of these areas.
Article 2 – 1. The German inhabitants of the Protectorate will receive German nationality and become citizens of the Reich, in accordance with the terms of the Reich citizenship law of September 15, 1935. The provisions for the protection of German blood and German honour will also be valid for them. They are subject to German jurisdiction.
2. The other inhabitants of Bohemia and Moravia will be citizens of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia.
Article 3 – 1. The Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia is autonomous and subject to its own administration.
2. It will exercise the rights of sovereignty accorded to it within the framework of the Protectorate in a manner compatible with the political, military and economic requirements of the Reich.
HEAD OF STATE
3. These sovereign rights will be administered by its own organs of government, its own authorities and its own officials.
Article 4 – 1. The head of the autonomous administration of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia will enjoy the honours and rights of a Head of State. The Head of the Protectorate will require the confidence of the Fuehrer and Chancellor in the exercise of his office.
Article 5 – 1. To watch over the interests of the Reich, the Fuehrer and Chancellor will appoint a Reich Protectorate in Bohemia and Moravia. His official residence will be in Prague.
2. The Reich Protector will have, as representative of the Fuehrer, and Chancellor and Commissioner of the Reich Government, the task of seeing that the political guilding lines laid down by the Fuehrer and Chancellor are observed.
3. The members of the Government of the Protectorate will be confirmed in office by the Reich Protector. This confirmation can be withdrawn.
4. The Reich Protector is authorised to be informed of all measures of the Protectorate Government, and to give his advice. He can enter a protest against measures that are calculated to injure the Reich, and where delay is dangerous, issue the necessary instructions in the common interest.
5. The promulgation of laws, decrees and other ordnances, as well as the execution of administrative measures and court verdicts, are to be suspended if the Reich Protector enters a protest.
MILITARY ESTABLISHMENTS
Article 6 – 1. The foreign relations of the Protectorate, especially the protection of its citizens abroad, are taken over by the Reich. The Reich will conduct these foreign relations in accordance with the common interests.
2. The Protectorate will have a representative with the Reich Government with the title of Minister (in the sense of envoy).
Article 7 – 1. The Reich will accord the Protectorate military protection.
2. In the exercise of this protection, the Reich will maintain garrisons and military establishments in the Protectorate.
3. For the maintenance of internal order and security, the Protectorate can enrol its own formations. The organisation, strength, number and armaments will be decided by the Reich Government.
Article 8 – 1. The Reich will exercise immediate supervision over communications, posts and tele-communications.
Article 9 – 1. The Protectorate will belong to the Customs area of the Reich and will be under its sovereignty in this respect.
Article 10 – 1. Until further notice the Krone will remain legal currency along with the Reichsmark.
2. The mutual relationship of the two currencies will be determined by the Reich Government.
LEGAL ORDINANCES
Article 11 – 1. The Reich may issue legal ordinances with validity for the protectorate so far as the common interest demands.
2. Wherever necessary, the Reich may take over branches of the administration and appoint its own functionaries.
3. The Reich Government may take all necessary measures for the maintenance of security and order.
Article 12 – 1. The laws at present in force in Bohemia and Moravia will remain valid so far as this is not incompatible with the assumption of the Protectorate by the Reich.
Article 13 – 1. The Reich Minister of the Interior will, in consultation with the Reich Minsters concerned, issue the necessary legal and administrative ordinances to carry out and supplement this decree.
D’OH! Not Gathering Storm. It is from Rise and Fall, by Shirer.
Of course we have the luxury of hindsight but even so, Chamberlain was not very bright.
A popular bumper sticker here in Santa Cruz is "I am already against the next war." Hindsight is often wasted.
Proclaiming the value of Christianity and civilization would be considered right-wing extremism today. "He stood up manfully against arrogant kings" would be condemned as hate speech.
After all, billions these days seem like such, well, pocket change. That's hardly change I could believe in. ;-)
Must be a typo...
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