English Translation

117 - 4 - Newspaper, like all others, has now been assimilated by the German invaders. - Jch belonged to the opposition as a member of the &sl. Parliament, without which no real democratic state can exist. However one may see this opposition, it cannot be denied that at the right time it warned against the danger to which the world was facing, if not quick and sharp action was taken against those who wanted to endanger peace in any way. - In this respect, I resigned our foreign policy, which was under the influence of Dr. Benesh people and state were prepared for a difficult time also in the military field. Our people and our army were very good and very diligently pre-rided. Unfortunately, we were not allowed to show Hitler what we could out of consideration for the preservation of peace. We had to make a sacrifice, which was, however, in vain. The war came and the enemy put all our equipment in and seized our strategic positions, which he used for the unleashing of the war. The victims, which the war has already cost and will still cost, are big, much bigger than if one had taken action against Germany years ago, which at that time only began to prepare, with all means. This would not even have meant war at that time. It would have been only a step towards strengthening and deepening peace. The present war could have been prevented by that, As far as I am concerned, I proposed such a sharp policy against Germany already in 1934. Jm "Nedělni list "vom 2o. In May 1934, I wrote: "In case that the peace treaty is not taken into account, because Germany is handling it through illegal armor, it would have to be forced to obey with military sanctions. When in the year l935 Germany announced the introduction of the general military duty and carried out a reorganization of the army, I wrote on l9.3.l935 in the same sheet: "Jch warn before the tolerance of these actions etc. .. I renewed intensive measures. " My conscience is therefore calm and pure in this regard! It is only logical that as a legionary in the second defensive struggle, in which we are distinguished by Benesch. It is clear that in this struggle all of us in the country and in the homeland are demanded in the Jnteresse of Steates and the people that we have no opposition. What is good in peace can be very harmful in the war. There is now no opposition in England either. We are now on the ground of England, our pilots are taking part in the air fighting and our army is preparing. England crowned Dr. Benesch's efforts by acknowledging our state as an allied country and thus provided the basis for this war to end with a great victory. This country, which had the greatest opposition in the Labour Party, has no opposition today and its people are united in the consciousness of its great historical task, in the awareness of the need to beat the enemy, to save the world empire and individuals, as well as the peoples. The British people form an indivisible whole in this war. This is the guarantee of the narrow victory in these difficult struggles. However, this unity must not be lacking with the allies of England and not with us either. Those who do not take this into account are a pest against the nation and, if they still stand in the opposition today, will not escape their just punishment. There must not be an opposition in wars. In the struggle for the freedom of the people there must be no opposing forces in the state. There can be no party differences, all must now be soldiers, as in the world war. As a participant in the second defense struggle abroad and as a member of the former opposition, I can only stress: "God be Dabk, that the leader of our liberation struggle is Benesch, who in a very short time the fulfilment of our maximum wish - 5 -