STRATEGY AND CZECHOSLOVAKIA [To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.]- SIR, —It
has long been idle to expect the present Government to lend its support to the principle of Collective Security for moral or idealistic reasons alone. But when we find that, as now with Czechoslovakia, they are blind to practical con- siderations also, then* indeed it is time to take ship for the other side of the world.
Huge sums of money are being voted for armaments, and there is one country in particular against which it is clear that these armaments may one day have to be directed. Why do the Government refuse to secure to themselves, by a guarantee of assistance in case of attack, the one territory from which effective bombing raids into enemy country could be made without delay, if necessary ? At least ten major German cities—including Leipzig, Dresden, Munich and Vienna—are within a distance of too miles from the Czecho- slovakian frontier ; Berlin is Ho miles. All these cities are nearer to Czechoslovakia than London is to the nearest point (since it is well to assume the very worst) on the Belgian coast.
The authorities need also to be reminded that Berlin is 475 miles away from the nearest point of England, and 360 from the nearest point of France ; also that while there are only 200 miles between France and Czechoslovakia, and only too between Czechoslovakia and Russia, there are boo between France and Russia. It should be clear that the Germanisation of Czechoslovakia would seriously hamper the conduct of any and-German war.
I am one of those who will be called upon to participate, if we are 'finally reduced to such a war. I shall not willingly do so if I feel, as I feel now, that elementary factors of military strategy are being overlooked. A child with a ruler and a sixpenny atlas could appreciate the points I have tried to make ; and I have personally no doubt that Herr Hitler too appreciates 'them—at least well enough to call off any further escapades he may have in mind, if a black-and-white mutual assistance pact between the remaining democracies is brought to his notice. It is therefore heartbreaking to watch the Government's continued vacillation, when they have at last the chance to uphold the forgotten spirit of law and morality in international dealings, and at the same time to consolidate our own fighting strength. —I am, Sir, yours faithfully,
MEa
HORDER.
32 Great Ormond Street, London, W.C. r.
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