COPY OF DOCUMENT D-572

BRITISH DIPLOMATIC PAPERS Further Correspondence Respecting Czechoslovakia Enclosure in No. 23.
Consul Pares [British Consul in Bratislava] to Mr. Newton [British Minister in Prague]
Bratislava, March 20, 1939
(No. 10)
Sir,
I have the honour to report that whatever may have been the
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origins of the crisis which led up to the declaration of Slovak independence last Tuesday—and there are many persons who are convinced that the Czech coup on the night of Thursday, the 9th March, was the result of German prompting—it has been obvious here that Germany played the most important part in the development of events after the crisis had begun. On the afternoon of Friday the German party held a large meeting here in which the speakers bitterly attacked the Prague "Bolshevists." The sympathy of the party with the Hlinka guard, then in opposition to the Government of Sivak and Teplansky, was openly displayed by hanging out the flag of the Hlinka guard from the balcony of the headquarters of the German party between those of the German party itself. Yesterday one of the semi-official organs of the Government, Slovensko, Pravda, printed a leading article in which it was frankly stated that Karmasin was with Dr. Tiso, Durcansky, Sidor and one of Mach's close associates during the first discussions held by the Slovak autonomists on Friday morning after the Czech coup. How little the Slovak population of Bratislava interested itself in the first day's events was indicated by the small number of persons who took part in the first demonstrations during the afternoon. The participants were an evil-looking rabble of the lowest possible type equipped with heavy poles, and the speakers who addressed them from the balcony of the Slovak National Theatre were little better. During the evening the Hlinka guard organized processions composed of less disreputable elements, mainly students and young men.
2. Besides affording Durcansky a refuge in Vienna and allowing him to incite the Hlinka guard to revolt against Sidor's Government in a speech broadcast by the Vienna wireless station, the German party are believed to have protected Murgas in their headquarters when he was fleeing from the Government's agents. The car of the German Consul here is said to have been used to convey Durcansky to Vienna in order to enable him to escape arrest when crossing the bridge-head into Germany. On Saturday, when Sidor's Government was trying to reconcile the various Opposition groups, the German party did their utmost to weaken him by refusing to recognize the Government, and by assisting its opponents in the Hlinka guard, with publicity for their denunciations and incitements to disobedience. During the afternoon arms and ammunition, believed to be of German type and brought over the bridge and even across the river were distributed to the German organization F.S. (Freiwilliger Schuetz-dienst) who then occupied the principal Government building together with some members of the Hlinka guard. An English
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journalist who visited the building said that the proportion of Germans to Slovaks was about twelve to one. An endeavour was also made by the German party to arrange a strike in local factories as I have heard from the manager of a mill here, but without success.
3. But it is doubtful if these efforts to create confusion and assist the Germanophil extremists would alone have produced results. The decisive factor was undoubtedly Dr. Tiso's visit to Berlin. I have talked with several Slovak-officials, and also with one of Dr. Tiso's intimate advisers, and have been given to understand that the proposals made by Herr Hitler were practically an ultimatum. Dr. Tiso was told that if Slovakia did not declare her independence Germany would leave her to the tender mercies of Poland and Hungary. It is certain that on Monday night, before the Slovak Diet met, German journalists, who doubtless obtained their information from the best sources, were announcing that the decision regarding Slovak independence could not be altered by the paltry deliberations of the Slovak Diet. Sano Mach, in a speech delivered the same evening, practically promised that Slovak independence would be declared the next day. I have even heard that there was no debate in the Diet since the Deputies felt that they had no choice but to accept the terms offered them. A speech made by Dr. Tiso last Sunday, in which he said that his journey to Berlin "saved Slovakia from certain ruin," appears to confirm the interpretation of event« given above.
4. The reception given to the declaration on Tuesday by the people of Bratislava was lukewarm indeed. There were no manifestations of joy and the townfolk went about their normal business as if nothing had happened. This lack of interest was already apparent on the previous evening when I had listened to Mach's speech. The majority of the audience who collected to hear Mach announce that independence would be declared were Germans and some of the Slovaks present actually grumbled'to themselves or heckled. In all, the crowd cannot have numbered more than 1,500 persons, which is a small figure for such an occasion in a town of 150,000 inhabitants. The methods by which the meeting was summoned are interesting. Sano Mach had been brought back from his confinement in Moravia by members of the German party and immediately after his return he had a conversation in my hotel with two of Karmasin's principal advisers. The leaflets announcing that he and Tuka would speak in the evening were printed in Slovak, but bore the name of a German firm of printers in Bratislava.
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5. The German party has been implicated in one at least of the explosions which occurred on Monday evening after Mach's speech. The municipal commission which conducted the official enquiry found that the bomb used was of German manufacture, and a member of the German party who lives in Engerau across the river was arrested in connection with the outrage.
6. A week after the declaration of independence the inhabitants of Bratislava are still unable to show great enthusiasm for the present state of affairs. The general impression is one of apathy or pessimism. The apprehensions caused by the appearance of German troops in Slovakia have not yet been delayed. Last Saturday night a manifestation was arranged at which Tuka and Mach spoke. Apart from the school children and members of the youth organizations of the Hlinka guard, who were ordered to appear, the attendance was small. Most of the crowd seemed to have come out of curiosity which seem to have been quickly dis-'pelled since in half an hour nearly alb those who were free to go away had disappeared, leaving about 3,000 behind.
7. I noticed that Sidor, who has practically resigned from the cabinet, and is viewed with extreme disfavour by the Germano-phils, received a far warmer ovation at this meeting than even Mach or Dr. Tiso. His name was not included on the list of speakers announced beforehand, but he spoke just before the end. The crowd demanded that he should not be made to leave Bratislava, but the truth seems to be that though he wanted to go north to Zilina he was ordered to remain by the Government.
8. The real power in the Government seems to be in the hands of a very small group. All the recent negotiations in Vienna have been carried on by a small consortium composed of Tuka, Dur-cansky and Mach who is not even a member of the Cabinet. Dr. Tiso usually goes with them, but it seems doubtful whether his voice counts for very much. The Cabinet, as constituted at first, seemed to be a Cabinet of concentration and reconciliation, but Sidor has.now withdrawn and Sivak, who must certainly be equally if not more compromised in the eyes of his extremist colleagues, does not attend the meetings of the Cabinet very frequently. Pruzinsky is reported to be persona non grata with the Germans. The result is that the Germanophils now have the upper hand.
9. There are indications that this group may be embarking on a policy which will cause some embarrassment to the Polish and Hungarian Governments. Mach in his speech on Saturday night made some references to the Slovaks now living in Hungary, while yesterday's Slovak prints a telegram sent to Murgas
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by the commune of Javorina ber) in which he is entreated
(occupied by Poland last Novem-to set them free at once.
I have, &c.
P. PARES.