Britain's Aim.

In the light of tills policy let us examine the British attitude to Czechoslovakia. In the first place, Britain would prefer a fascist dictatorship to a democratic government even of the right, for who can foretell the result of the next elections? Secondly, Britain has no colonial interest in the country. Thirdly, the absorption of Czechoslovakia would give Germany no strategic advantage for the new kind of war if she wages it westward, but would give her an enormous strategic advantage in a war against the U.S.S.R. by providing advanced bases and by exterminating one of Russia's two European allies. The incorporation of Czechoslovakia in the Reich would thus bring nearer the realisation of the secret dearest wish of the British ruling class.

But Czechoslovakia will fight unless she is appreciably weakened before the crisis comes; and if she fights. France and Russia will fight: and if France fights. Britain will fight, even though Russia would be an ally, for a Germany that had defeated France would be too strong to be controlled by Britain's manipulations of the balance of power.