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CITY EDITION
tri:Or
NO. 2,919.
PRICE THREEPENCE.
PERTH, SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 1936.
The Personality of Dr. Benes New Hope for the Church in Czechoslovakia MASARYK'S PUPIL SERVES CATHOLICISM
I
T was fairly certain that Dr. Benes would succeed to the Presidency of Czechoslovakia on the retirement of Masaryk. Dr. Benes will, indeed, become the man of to-morrow, for Czechoslovakia is the "key" State of Central Europe. And already, of course, he is the man of yesterday and to-day.
To the British diplomatists who transmitted his messages to tht- Czech National Council in Moscow, Eduard Benes was long known as "Beans." It is a sign of the rapid progress he has made in British estimation that every 13 ritish schoolboy now knows that his name is pronounced not "Beans," but "Benaysh."
T
HERE is every reason for grave apprehension over the recent trend of international politics. The armament race has again begun, the shallow but dangerous pride of race is rampant. Everywhere is hate, suspicion and distrust. Yet despite many ominous signs on the times, there is still room for a sane optimism. In many places in Europe, strong Catholic statesmen have acceded to power. In the present instance, many good things may come from C zechoslovakia under the leadership of Dr. Benes.
Is a pupil of Masaryk still in his l• evotion to Czechoslovak indedendence. During the War he fought for this independence by way of ceaseless propaganda among the Allies and the Czech secret society, named, after a no, too ‘vholesome Italian model, the Mafia. The code of the Czech Mafia gives some idea of the romantic idealism that may underlie the cold_ logic of Central European lawyers. In this code Berlin was referred to as Pankrac. which is the name of a Prague gaol ; Vienna was Bohnitz, which is the Prague lunatic asylum; and Germany was Temno, which means darkness.
Czechoslovakia was freed from T hat progress has been made gaol" and "lunatic in w ithout adventitious aid. Dr. 1918. Since then asylum" has Dr. Benes Benes has none of the qualities which endear men to the English set himself the task of making it steadily stronger. He made one people. True, he is a fighter; mistake in 1920, when he allowed but few people in England know talk of Czechoslovak aggression inticTi of the fight he has waged against Hungary; from 1920 on for Czechoslovak independence. he followed the cold unerring True, lit is associated with the cautious and calculating legendary Masaryk; but to how path of diplomacy. many is the legend of Masaryk more than the legend of a name? The Little Entente—union of True also that he has played footzechoslovakia. Rumania. and C ball and now plays tennis; but Yugoslavia—was the creation of does not the English people still Dr. Benes. M. Take jonescu. and rather despise tennis and its players? Dr. Benes's rise to fame has been due to qualities whose repute dieci. in England with Sam. nd Smiles. He is industry personified; he rises early and works fifteen hours a day. He is a professional philosopher, and has a great admiration for Bacon. He eats little, drinks less, and does not smoke. He is, moreover, almost a fop in his dress. But self-help counts still on the Continent. vhere all work and no play makes brilliant Ministers. Dr. Benes has been in uninterrupted charge of Czech°, slovak foreign policy since the birth of Czechoslovakia in 1918 As he had also represented hithen non-existent country in nit, official conspirative fashion from 1915 to 1918, he may be said to have been its Foreign Minister for twenty years. In office, official and unofficial. he has been, and will be, consistent. At Prague he was a pupil of Masaryk, who sent him thence to Dijon, Paris and London. He
There was never M. Pashitch. much doubt which was the moving spirit in this triple alliance. There is none since the death of M. Jonescu and M. Pashitc11, The Little Entente wa.s created It did not become a in 1921. Great Power in European politics until the triple alliance of Czechoslovakia, Rumania and Yugoslavia was given statutory form in 1933. And it showed no promise of becoming a Great Power in European economy until Dr- Benes elaborated his plans for economic co-operation between the States of the Little Entente at Sinaia last year.
DR. BENES. "Czechoslovakia," Dr. in Benes's own words, "is an island set in the troubled sea of the political revolutions of Swastikas and Fascism." There is some comfort for this island. and for other European States as well in the clear-cut certainty of Dr. Benes' policy and character.
He is a lawyer who knows the exact limits of his country's legal Recent changes within centra; rights; his stand against the European States have given spe- Four -Power Pact showed that he cial interest and importance to is prepared to defend those rights Nazi Ger- He is a democrat by training and Dr. Benes's policy. many is, if not irredentist, at any conviction, from whom Nazi Gerrate something near it; and man), and Fascist Austria have of Czechoslovakia's population drawn unequivocal declarations nearly a quarter is German. The of his belief in democracy for League, on which Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia. He is a realist relied as much as did the other aware equally of his country's Succession States for the fulfil- powers and of its dangers. ment and maintenance of Peace Legality and democracy, even Treaty provisions, has lately been when combined with a realistic much weakened. Austria might sense of the uses of power, may soon go Nazi .and if she does not not prove Central Europe's salbecome might become Nazi, vation. But at least, if conflict Fascist. should come, they will make the causes of conflict clear. For the legalistic, democratic and realist Dr. Belies. Europe has cause to be thankful.
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And the Catholic world, more than any other, will look to Benes and to Czechoslovakia with expectant eyes. For Dr. Benes is a Catholic statesman whose influence as President may make an appreciable difference in the pre,ent critical situation in Central Europe. Masaryk, as a staunch Protestant of the traditional type. never cOmmanded the same general support. although he had become an immortal leader in his ountrv's revival. A s Foreign M Mister for many r ears under Masaryk, Dr Benes has become a great international figure. In home politics he has -endered valuable service to the Church. both by negotiating the modus vivendi with the Vatican, v..hich has become almost a Concordat, and by his help in overcotnititz difficulties in preparation for the Catholic Congress it? Prague
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