CZECH PROBLEM

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 194, 18 May 1938, Page 5

CZECH PROBLEM

NEGOTIATIONS DESIRED. INVITATION BY GOVERNMENT. ADVANCES TO THE LEADER. (United Press Association —Copyright.) (Received This Day, 10.55 a.m.) 1 LONDON, May 17. It is learned here that the Czechoslovakian Government has invited Herr Henlein to enter into negotiations at the earliest moment with a view to a settlement of the Sudeten German problem.

HERR HENLEIN’S INQUIRY.

DOMINIONS’ VIEWS SOUGHT,

LONDON, May 16

The Australian Associated Press learned that Herr Henlein when in London conferred with Mr Malcolm MacDonald of State for the Dominions). It appears that Herr Henlein was equally eager to know the Dominions’ views as well as Britain’s attitude on the Czechoslovak problem, especially how the Dominions are likely to react to his demand for reorientation of Czechoslovak foreign policy. He regards self-determination as indispensable, which in its extreme form would mean a Sudeten Deutsch vote for union with Germany, which would ~almost certainly inspire the Polish and Hungarian minorities to follow suit.

LIMIT TO CONCESSIONS.

ADVICE'TENDERED' BY FRANCE,

LONDON, May 17. The Paris correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph” says that* M. Georges Bonnet (French Foreign Minister), when he received the Czech Minister to France (Dr. Stefan Osussky), declared that France’s advice to Czechoslovakia was to be as conciliatory as possible to the Sudeten Germans, but not to make concessions amounting to "national suicide.” THE ATTITUDE OF BRITAIN. NO SUGGESTION FOR ACTION. LONDON, May 16. Questions were addressed in the House of Commons to’ the Prime Minister (Mr Neville Chamberlain) about the representations by the British Minister in Prague on the Sudeten German problem. They were answered by the Under-i Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Mr R. A. Butler) as Mr Chamberlain was confined to his room in Downing Street by a slight attack ol gout. Mr Butler said that the British Government’s representative in Prague (Mr G. C. Newton) had had conversations with the Czechoslovakian Prime Minister (Dr. Hodza) and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Dr. Krotta) about this. The British Government had not suggested to the Czechoslovakian Government any particular measures or concessions to Germany, but had urged the desirability, with which the Czechoslovakian Government was in full agreement, of doing everything possible to further an agreed settlement of the problem. "Matters have not yet reached a stage when I can usefully make a further statement,” he added. Mr Arthur Henderson (Labour asked, "Will the Government give no support to any concession which will destroy the effective defence of Czechoslovakia?” Mr Butler replied: "I have stated that we have not suggested to the Czechoslovakian Government any particular measure of concession.”

He declined to add to the statement, when a Conservative back-bencher asked whether the British Government would resist the claims ot minorities in Czechoslovakia to dictate to the Czechoslovakian Government the nature of its foreign policy. Mr Butler also returned no reply to Sir Archibald Sinclair, leader of the Liberals, when he asked, “Does the Government realise that in making these representations in Prague it is assuming a heavy moral responsibility?” In answer to another question, Mr Butler said that Herr Henlein, on his recent visit to London, had not been received by any member of the Government. The report of a meeting between Mr Malcolm MacDonald, then Dominions Secretary, and Herr Henlein was without foundation, nor did Herr Henlein visit the Foreign Office. He had met Sir Robert \ ansittart (Chief Diplomatic Adviser to the Foreign Office), with whom he was already acquainted, on a purely private occasion.—British Official Wireless. ARREST OF PROPAGANDISTS. PRAGUE, May 16. Several Germans have been arrested in connection with the distribution of thousands of propaganda tracts in Bohemia and Moravia.