NAZI MANIFESTO RAISES CZECH STIR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 118, 21 May 1938, Page 9

NAZI MANIFESTO RAISES CZECH STIR.

EVE OF PARLEYS. Calculated to Create Worst Atmosphere. SIGNIFICANT STATEMENT. United Press Association."— Copyright. (Received 12.:X> ji.ui.) LONDON', May 20. The "Daily Telegraph" Prague correspondent says the political committee of the Henlein party has issued a declaration making recent clashes between Chechoslovakians and Germans the excuse for their refusal to meet Dr. Hodza, Czech Prime Minister, to discuss the minorities statute. The document contains the gravely significant statement that the committee cannot restrain individual Germans from exercising the '"right to elementary self-defence." Coming 011 the eve of the elections and the Hodza-Henlein talks, the manifesto is calculated to create the worst possible atmosphere and possibly lead to the gravest consequences. It is regarded as a deliberate attempt to wreck the negotiations and encourage the Sudeten Germans to greater violence. Dr. Hodza announced that negotiations with the Germans and other minorities would begin immediately. Whatever happened Czechoslovakia would stand fast by her allies and guaranteed that this Government would fulfil reasonable Nationalist demands but would suppress j terrorism rigorously. Herr Henlein has left for Germany with his wife, it is reported, for a holiday. SITUATION SERIOUS. SHARPER TONE OF NAZI PRESS. (Received 2 p.m.) LONDON, May 20. After rumours of troop movements on all German frontier's, the British Ambassador in Berlin. Sir Nevile Hender- . son. called at the Foreign Office, but was assured that they were only the seasonal ' relief movements. | The "Daily Herald" Berlin correspondent says that the Czeclio-German situation is admittedly serious. Any disturbance in Czechoslovakia resulting " in deaths of Sudetens, might have • dangerous results. • In Germany the tone of the Press towards Czechoslovakia is sharper, and the public appears to be prepared foi s ] any eventuality.