gives to the Sudeten problem and discussions between
 
Dr. Benes and Dr. Jaksch, leader of the former Sudeten
 
Social Democratic Party, have been encouraged. Dr.
 
Benes has left open six seats in the National Council
 
for Suds ten representatives and has offered one of the
 
two Vice-Presidencies to a Sudeten. Several talks
 
have taken place between Dr. Benes and Dr. Jaksch, but
 
there is little hope of a satisfactory solution in
 
present circumstances for the following reasons:-
 
(i) Dr. Jaksch can only speak for one minority Sudeten
 
Party and not for the Sudsten Germans as a whole.
 
(ii) Many Czechs at home would be shocked by concessions
 
to Sudeten Germans,whom they hold largely responsible 
 
for their present oppression.
 
(ii) Dr. Jaksch does not wish to commit himself on the
 
form of Sudsten association with a Czechoslovak State until
 
the future status and internal structure of such a state
 
can be more clearly foreseen at a later stage of the war.
 
For the present, therefore, His Majesty's Government cannot 
 
go beyond the attitude they have hitherto takon up
 
that, pending a solution of the difficulties between Dr.
 
Benes and the Sudeten Democratic leaders, they must 
 
reserve the position as regards the Czechoslovak Government's
exercise of legislative authority over certain
 
Czechoslovak nationals (i.e. Sudeten Germans and other
 
dissident elements) and their property in this country.
 
     8. The conclusion is that it would hardly be