MUCH IMPROVED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 194, 30 May 1938, Page 5

MUCH IMPROVED

CENTRAL EUROPEAN POSITION. EFFECT OF BRITAIN’S ATTITUDE. PROTESTS IN FRIENDLY SPIRIT. (United Press Association—Copyrights (Received This Day, 9.20 a.m.) LONDON, May 29. The British United Press correspondent at Prague says that in an exclusive interview, the Foreign Minister (Dr. Krofta) expressed the opinion that Britain’s initiative will ensure peace in Central Europe. The tension has already ceased and things are definitely better. The recent protests about aeroplane incidents were not serious and had not constituted any form of ultimatum, but had been made in a friendly spirit. The Government was as anxious as Herr Henlein for good relations with Germany.

ONE CASE OF DISORDER. SUDETEN GERMAN WOUNDED. (Received This Dav, 12.55' p.m.) LONDON, May 29. “The a. Times” correspondent- at Prague says that the second day of the elections was without incident, except at Tisa, where, before polling, Sudetens clashed with German Social Democrats, resulting in a scuffle. One Sudeten was slightly wounded by a revolver bullet.

PROGRESS IN NEGOTIATIONS.

DECISION FOR CONTINUANCE

(Received This Day, 12.55 p.m.) LONDON, May 29

Dr. Hodza and members of the Henlein Party, after discussion on “the most actual questions,” announced that they had reached an. understanding for the continuance of the negotiations, on which, for the first time, both sides reported that progress had been made.

ALLEGATIONS BY BOTH SIDES, PLANE VIOLATIONS OF FRONTIER PRAGUE, May 28. On the eve of to-morrow’s second instalment of the Czech local elections in 2480 towns and villages, in which the issue is largely between Herr Henlein (the Sudeten German leader) and the Socialists, the Czech Minister in Berlin (Dr. V. Mastny) protested to the German Government that German military aeroplanes had committed further frontier violations.

Dr. Mastny alleged espionage by Germany, also the finding of 120 machineguns in Aussig, an important Sudeten town. He alleged that German military ’planes flew over the Czech frontier on 22 occasions in a few days. The Germans retaliated by charging Czech aeroplanes with twice crossing the frontier. Many minor incidents were alleged to have occurred on each side of the frontier.

A Berlin message states that the morning newspapers give prominence to an Englishman’s description of a motor-car journey from Carlsbad, in Czechoslovakia, to Eger, in Hungary, via Germany. He says that he was ordered to leave the main road 20 times, and had to drive along farm tracks and over emergency bridges. Sudeten Germans told him of other warlike preparations. Farm implements were being used as barricades, and the military had requisitioned horses. Preparations had been made at Neustadtl and other towns to burn down all public buildings, including schools. Efforts to reach a German - Czech settlement continue. The Czech Prime Minister (Dr. Hodza) again discussed the problem with Sudeten deputies, and also received Mr Basil Newton (British Minister in Prague), who sought information about frontier incidents and about Czechoslovakia’s actions in this connection. The Ministry for the Interior, following further German protests, has increased the width of the prohibited zone for Czech aeroplanes to six miles.

BRITISH VIEW REAFFIRMED. NOT ISOLATION OR INTERVENTION. LONDON. May 28. The diplomatic correspondent of the Australian Associated Press says it is gathered that Lord Halifax outlined to the Dominions’ representatives Britain’s representations to Prague, Paris and Berlin, especially on Britain’s attitude to Central Europe, which constituted not a syllable more or less than Mr Chamberlain’s pronouncement in the House of Commons on March 24; but the real significance was that this was reaffirmed and underlined at a critical week-end.

Nobody knows for certain Germany’s real intentions toward Czechoslovakia. It is hinted that the problem has undoubtedly caused conflict in Herr Hitler’s hierarchy; but it is thought that if Germany lias changed her tactics she lias not changed her objective. The belief is widely held that if immediate annexation fails her aim will be the slower but sure process of economic and financial absorption. That Britain’s policy as between intervention and isolation remains mdc-

terminate is extremely irritating to Germany, which evidently continues to regard Britain as the leal obstacle to the attainment of European domination