English Translation

Prague, 21 August 1939. Comment on the file. Subject: Statement on the question of colours, coats of arms and flags of the Protectorate. Even taking into account all the reasons given by Mr Volckart to leave the state flag of the Czechoslovak Republic as a flag of protectorate, I cannot agree with this view. It is completely impossible that this symbol of the decayed democratic state, which was represented above all by Benes and his many followers even today, should in future be the flag of the Protectorate. This is also impossible from the outset, because § 5 of the constitution of the Czechoslovak Republic expressly defines these colours as "colours of the republic" and in the S.d.G.u.V. of 3rd March 192o the blue in wedge form is expressly to be regarded as a symbol of the three Slovak hills. As Mr Volckart himself says, the choice of the three colours at the time was decisive for this tricolor to symbolize the panslavist idea and, in addition, in the founding year and in 1919 in the Czechoslovak Republic, the blue is among others. because the future federal state of France, as protector and co-founder of the state, should see a special friendly gesture in it. Finally, if the old state flag is maintained, all the Protectorate Chechens will always see the hope of restoring and restoring the former Czechoslovak state. $\BM - -