DIPLOMATIC ISSUE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 135, 21 March 1939, Page 5

DIPLOMATIC ISSUE

GERMAN ANNEXATION. THE QUESTION* OF RECOGNITION. G OVERNMENTS CONFERRING. ■ f (United Press Association —Copyright.) (Received This Day, 9.5 a.m.) ' LONDON, March 20. Asked in the House of Commons whether the Government was recognising the annexation of Czechoslovakia Mr Chamberlain replied that the Government, in concert with other Governments, was considering all the consequences of the German action before a statement was possible. He added that the House %vas aware froni his speech at Birmingham, of the serious view the Government takes of the situation. In reply to the Leader of the Opposition (Mr C. R. Atlee), the Prime Minister promised a fuller statement at the earliest opportunity, but he declined to say with how many Governments he was communicating. Mr Chamberlain said he was circulating the text of the agreement reached between Herr Hitler and Dr. Hacha, and added: “As far as I am aware, no written ultimatum was presented to Dr. Hacha before his acceptance.” VIGOROUS NOTE TO BERLIN. 1 ■ ... DRAFTED BY UNITED STATES. ACTION TO “ STOP DRIVE.” WASHINGTON, March 19, The Acting-Secretary of State (Mr Sumner Welles), in collaboration with Mr Roosetelt, has completed the draft of a vigorous formal Note to Germany condemning the annexation of Czechoslovakia and indicating further parallel .action with Britain and Fiance “to stop Herr Hitler’s drive.” The Note will probably be made public here and in Berlin to-morrow. It is believed here that it may result in severing diplomatic relations. It is understood that the Note may go further than Mr Welles’ informal denunciation, even excoriating the Nazis as a menace to civilisation. Speculation is at present centring on , whether the United States will drop the thin remnants of its traditional aloofness from European affairs to participate in a conference with Britain, France and Russia to determine ways and means of halting Herr Hitler’s march to # the east. American participation in the conference would be certain to riieet with stiff opposition in Congress, and it is possible that the Administration will not chance it, preferring to assist in a less direct manner. SIGNS OF TIMES MISREAD. GERMAN VIEWS CONDEMNED. « BACK TO STARK FORCE.” LONDON, March 20. “The Times” in a leading article says : “ The Germans are misreading the signs of the times when they attribute the , present collapse of international confidence to other nations’ Machiavellian cumulations and hidden motives for aggression. “ The seizure of Czechoslovakia is the solo cause for despair of a peaceful settlement. This, with the accompanying maltreatment, is more disastrous because the perpetrator was one of the four who undertook to preserve Czechoslovakia in its new form. “ Europe is driven back upon stark force. Nothing else counts. It was not a happy moment for Herr Hitler to offer to guarantee Rumania in exchange for all her produce. She instantly manned her frontiers. All the smaller countries fear German protection. The suppression of Bohemia’s liberties is a crime. “Germany totally misunderstands the British, American, French and Russian refusal to recognise her action, as the, expansion of National Socialism means tyranny, cruelty and paganism. The reaction to such a move is spontaneous. Britain has opposed the encircling of Germany but Germany’s methods have made encirclement inevitable.” - “GOOD OLD NEVILLE.” CHEERS FOR PRIME MINISTER, (Received This Day, 9.5 a.m.) LONDON, March 20. _ The Cabinet meeting ended at 12.15 p.m. Three hundred people cheered Mr Chamberlain as he was leaving No. 10 Downing Street for the House of Commons, with cries of “Good Old Neville. FRENCH PLENARY POWERS. COUNTRY ON A WAR FOOTING. (Received This Day, 1.35 p.m.) PARTS, March 20. The plenary decrees the Government carte blanch to place industry and the army on a war footing.