German Activities in Central Europe

Abstract

DURING the past fortnight, the State of Czechoslovakia has been forcibly broken up and a large part absorbed into tho “Great German Reich” as the “Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia”. In the account of Czechoslovakia's contributions to science which appeared in NATURE of November 26, 1938,pp. 942-44, the hope was expressed that the scientific and cultural development of the Czechs woiild still be possible after their territory had been drastically curtailed by the Munich Agreement, and that they would continue to make contributions to the advancement of scientific knowledge and take a share in its application to the welfare of mankind. This hope was qualified by the anxiety then felt for those men of science and learning whom tho imoverished State might not be able to support, and it is gratifying to know that, until recently, indeed until the very end, the educational authorities succeeded in maintaining practically all the important research institutions and cultural associations remaining within the country. Scientific publications also continued to appear, and there was every reason to believe that the nation would, by hard labour, maintain its vigour and prosperity, and its men of science would be able to continue to achieve distinction and add to the sum of human knowledge by meritorious work in their respective fields. It is, perhaps, too early to foresee the consequences of the latest events in Central Europe. The new Protectorate is avowedly to have a measure of autonomy, though this is scarcely likely to go so far as to permit the free and open interchange of thought which has been banned in Germany for the past few years.