A Peace Too Costly
After the English Parliament’s 1938 appeasement in Czechoslovakia, Churchill saw the danger of choosing peace, when honor and common sense called for battle. History, of course, would confirm his point: Refusing to fight an honorable battle may afford a temporary peace, but in the long run, it’s a peace too costly. Delaying a necessary battle may well result in devastating, full scale war. And as always, dishonor looks like an easier choice.
Tyrants never co-exist peacefully. By their nature, they demand increased territory, fewer limitations, more captives.
Men of Honor, fighting mad, enlisted, and committed, no longer surrender territory that belongs to them.
Neville Chamberlain became Prime Minister of Britain on 28th May, 1937. Over the next two years Chamberlain’s Conservative government became associated with the foreign policy that later became known as appeasement.
Chamberlain believed that Germany had been badly treated by the Allies after it was defeated in the First World War. He therefore thought that the German government had genuine grievances and that these needed to be addressed. He also thought that by agreeing to some of the demands being made by Adolf Hitler of Germany and Benito Mussolini of Italy, he could avoid a European war.
Anthony Eden, Chamberlain’s foreign secretary, did not agree with the policy of appeasement and resigned in February, 1938. Eden was replaced by Lord Halifax who fully supported this policy. Halifax had already developed a good relationship with the German government. After his first visit to Nazi Germany he told his friend, Henry (Chips) Channon: “He (Halifax) told me he liked all the Nazi leaders, even Goebbels, and he was much impressed, interested and amused by the visit. He thinks the regime absolutely fantastic.”
In November, 1937, Neville Chamberlain sent Lord Halifax to meet Adolf Hitler, Joseph Goebbels and Hermann Goering in Germany. In his diary, Lord Halifax records how he told Hitler: “Although there was much in the Nazi system that profoundly offended British opinion, I was not blind to what he (Hitler) had done for Germany, and to the achievement from his point of view of keeping Communism out of his country.” This was a reference to the fact that Hitler had banned the Communist Party (KPD) in Germany and placed its leaders in Concentration Camps.
In February, 1938, Adolf Hitler invited Kurt von Schuschnigg, the Austrian Chancellor, to meet him at Berchtesgarden. Hitler demanded concessions for the Austrian Nazi Party. Schuschnigg refused and after resigning was replaced by Arthur Seyss-Inquart, the leader of the Austrian Nazi Party. On 13th March, Seyss-Inquart invited the German Army to occupy Austria and proclaimed union with Germany.
The union of Germany and Austria (Anschluss) had been specifically forbidden by the Treaty of Versailles. Some members of the House of Commons, including Anthony Eden and Winston Churchill, now called on Neville Chamberlain to take action against Adolf Hitler and his Nazi government.
Hugh Christie an MI6 agent working based in Berlin, met with Hermann Goering on 3rd February 1937. He immediately reported his conversation with Goering and included information that Germany intended to take control of Austria and Czechoslovakia. He also told Christie that Germany mainly wanted “a free hand in Eastern Europe.”
In March 1938 Hugh Christie told the British government that Adolf Hitler would be ousted by the military if Britain joined forces with Czechoslovakia against Germany. Christie warned that the “crucial question is ‘How soon will the next step against Czechoslovakia be tried?’ … The probability is that the delay will not exceed two or three months at most, unless France and England provide the deterrent, for which cooler heads in Germany are praying.”
International tension increased when Adolf Hitler began demanding that the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia should be under the control of the German government. In an attempt to to solve the crisis, the heads of the governments of Germany, Britain, France and Italy met in Munich in September, 1938.
On 29th September, 1938, Adolf Hitler, Neville Chamberlain, Edouard Daladier and Benito Mussolini signed the Munich Agreement which transferred to Germany the Sudetenland, a fortified frontier region that contained a large German-speaking population. When Eduard Benes, Czechoslovakia’s head of state, who had not been invited to Munich, protested at this decision, Chamberlain told him that Britain would be unwilling to go to war over the issue of the Sudetenland.
The Munich Agreement was popular with most people in Britain because it appeared to have prevented a war with Germany. However, some politicians, including Winston Churchill and Anthony Eden, attacked the agreement. These critics pointed out that no only had the British government behaved dishonorably, but it had lost the support of Czech Army, one of the best in Europe.
One staunch critic of appeasement was the journalist Vernon Bartlett. He was approached by Richard Acland to stand as an anti-Chamberlain candidate at a by-election in Bridgwater. Bartlett agreed and in November, 1938, surprisingly won the previously safe Tory seat. Henry (Chips) Channon , a junior member of the government wrote in his diary: “This is the worst blow the Government has had since 1935″.
In March, 1939, the German Army seized the rest of Czechoslovakia. In taking this action Adolf Hitler had broken the Munich Agreement. The British prime minister, Neville Chamberlain, now realized that Hitler could not be trusted and his appeasement policy now came to an end.
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This is so, SOOOOOO IMPORTANT:
“In March 1938 Hugh Christie told the British government that Adolf Hitler would be ousted by the military if Britain joined forces with Czechoslovakia against Germany. Christie warned that the “crucial question is ‘How soon will the next step against Czechoslovakia be tried?’ … The probability is that the delay will not exceed two or three months at most, unless France and England provide the deterrent, for which cooler heads in Germany are praying.””
Every time we sit down w/the savages and verminous filth, we are ENCOURAGING/STRENGTHENING them, and DEMORALIZING/WEAKENING the decent folks who risk their lives by opposing them. The only thing that impresses the vermin is…THE BIG FIST.
This is nothing new, but the morons in our Foreign Policy Establishment have never grasped it. Even a smart lady like Dr. Rice has started slurping up this swill.
I thank God every day for the brave men & women who are defending us in the Devil’s heartland, and for the intelligent folks here at this great site.
May 14th, 2007 at 4:04 pmWhat will be the acceptable price for the Democrats to achieve power. Another attack on NYC or Washington, a large scale WMD attack by Al Qqeda. Peace in our time was the selling point by Chamberlain. Peace, away from a stupid war, where are the WMD’s, no war with Iran, are todays rallying cries. Too funny how so many did not get it back then as they do not get it today. An old statement made was that we are bound to repeat history. Unfortunately so when the common denominator of ignorant takes root. The smart take advantage of mistakes and learn by them. In my line of work we call them Operating Experiences. They make the mistakes, we learn by them and NOT make the same ones ourselves. Exhibit number one so well illustrated by Chamberlain has always been a textbook case, or is that now banned from modern texbooks? Of course they will point out that the next attack will be on account that well will have been the ones to provoke them. The only good that can happen if this become the outcome is that I can only hope more of the idiots, and may I say evil like in our democ-rats leadership, will perish in the next round. The enemy as we know it can be beaten and is being beaten. If only the backing for them will stay intact. It is good to know that there are still enough out there that can be truly called American to yet make it count. Thanks Pat for this forum and I wish you well in your latest round.
May 14th, 2007 at 4:19 pmJerry said: “Another attack on NYC or Washington, a large scale WMD attack by Al Qqeda.” but Ms CoRev hopes the next attack occurs in San Francisco or Hollywood. Then we can watch the cockroaches of blame scurry around blaming everyone but themselves.
May 14th, 2007 at 6:03 pmRemember how long Churchill had to cry in the wilderness for years about the growing danger before the British people finally came to their senses and he became their leader. And then, when they were done with him, they unceremoniously dumped him. This is human nature. To some of us, Churchill is a giant among men, truly awe inspiring. Thanks for the history lesson. Hopefully, when the US is sitting down with Iran and/or Syria as they are planning on doing, it will be to warn/threaten/deliver ultimatums and not to appease.
May 14th, 2007 at 9:10 pmCarol m says
This is human nature. I don’t mean to contradict…BUT
I would have said its appeaser taught nature.
May 15th, 2007 at 5:29 amMark Steyn uses this quote today and it bares repeating here.
“Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” ~Ben Franklin
May 15th, 2007 at 5:55 am“First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me.”
- Pastor Niemoller
Very pertinent in today’s world. Even though I don’t believe history repeats itself, there are deffinitely lessons that can be learned from others mistakes. Appeasing tyrants is one of them.
May 15th, 2007 at 6:25 am“Never run away from danger.” Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill was without a doubt one of the greatest leaders in the history of mankind. He was truly a fascinating, brilliant, and talented man. He began sounding the warning about the growing menace of Germany even before the start of World War I. He ignored those that called him an alarmist while he used his position as the First Lord of the Admiralty to prepare the navy. Later as the munitions minister during WWI he began developing the tank and producing thousands of new war machines in a massive effort to protect his country.
Then once again, preceeding WWII he sounded the warning about Germany. And once again he was denounced as a warmonger. He was ridiculed for sensing danger even when military intelligence said everything was fine. He was ridiculed up to the moment Germany marched into Poland. Then he was asked to take the reins and save his country. Did the people realize he had been doing that all along? Well, we know the story–he did save them. Then he was voted out of office. The people wanted a change. In his final years he warned his countrymen about the coming danger of Communism—only once again to be labeled as an alarmist and warmonger. (After everything he did–still boggles my mind.)
I am left to wonder 2 things:
1)Am I the only one who sees history repeating itself?
2)What would Mr. Churchill have to say about the current events of today?
For those who have even a passing interest in history or politics, you must read Churhill’s biography. It is a tale of one of the most intelligent, talented, and courageous men to have ever lived. (In my humble opinion.) The funny thing is–he was such a slacker up until he turned 22 that his Dad wasn’t quite sure what to do with a boy of such “limited intelligence”. It gives me great hope as a mother of 5 boys–the oldest being 16. Those who have/have had teens know what I’m talking about. Those times when I wonder what he was thinking—or wondering how he’ll ever hold a job and support himself…. I just think of ol’ Winston’s dad and smile.
May 15th, 2007 at 10:39 pm