U.S. President John F. Kennedy alluded to his inaugural address at American University in 1963, in which he sought “not only peace in our time, but peace at all times.” [8] The solution to the Czechoslovakian problem that has just been found is, in my opinion, only the prelude to a greater colony, where all of Europe can find peace. This morning I had another conversation with the German Chancellor, Mr. Hitler, and this is the paper that bears his name, as well as mine [shows paper to the crowd]. Some of you may have already heard what it contains, but I would just like to read it to you: “… We consider the agreement signed last night and the Anglo-German naval agreement as a symbol of the desire of our two peoples never to go to war again. [3] [4] We do not want to allow ourselves to be driven on the high road to the satellite of the German Nazi system of European domination. In a few years, perhaps in a few months, we will be faced with demands that we will undoubtedly meet. These claims may prejudice the surrender of the territory or the surrender of release. I foresee and predict that the policy of submission will lead to restrictions on freedom of expression and debate in Parliament, on public platforms and in the press, because it will be said – yes, I sometimes hear it now – that we cannot allow the Nazi system of dictatorship to be criticised by ordinary and ordinary English politicians. Then, with a press under control, partly directly, but more indirectly, endowed with each body of public opinion and chloroformed in tolerance, we will be led to other stages of our journey. Churchill`s great disagreements with John Simon and Chamberlain necessitated war with Germany to defend Czechoslovakia.
Churchill felt that Czechoslovakia had been sacrificed to maintain peace with Germany, and that they had “abandoned to themselves and said that they were not receiving help from the Western powers, [the Czechs] were able to make better terms than they would have obtained.” Churchill also used his speech to highlight the hypocrisy of forcing Czechoslovakia to abandon part of its sovereign territory without a referendum.
