SUDETEN PARTY DISSOLVED

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 220, 17 September 1938, Page 11

SUDETEN PARTY DISSOLVED

STRONG ACTION TAKEN BY CZECHS

DECREE ISSUED

INSTANT SURRENDER OF ARMS ORDERED

RETALIATION IN GERMANY

(United Pres. Association—Copyright.— R ec . 12 noon.)

LONDON, September 16. The British United Press Prague correspondent says the Government has deeded to dissolve the Sudeten German party. confiscated mUBt band and their Property will be

Simultaneously with the dissolution of the Sudeten party the authorities began measures against other ' disloyal organisations whereby future activity will be rendered impossible." Sudeten party badges and uniforms are now banned. A Government decree ordering 63 districts to surrender arms has been extended to 33 additional districts in Moravia and Silesia, some of which are wholly Czech. Through the dissolution of the Sudetens all Henlein Deputies are deprived of Parliamentary mandates and immunity, but it is not likely the Government will take action against those remainIJ R , territor y. as all declare that they were ignorant of Herr Henlein s proclamation and disclaim connection with it. Police are occupying and closing all offices and party premises of the Henlein organisation.

The Manchester Guardian Prague correspondent says Herren Kundt, Sebekowsky, Rosche and Neuwirth, the Sudeten German leaders, who are remaining in Prague, have founded a new party with the title of the Bohemian-German party, apparently replacing the Sudeten German party. The founders belong to the moderate wing of the former Henlein group.

The Prague correspondent of the British United Press, however, says that Herr Kundt denies association witH the new Bohemian-German party. He declares the dissolution of the Sudeten German party is illegal, and he intends to fulfil his duties as a deputy.

The Government states the population in many places has surrendered its arms.

"The Times" Prague representative aays there is no news of German reactions to the Sudeten party dissolution or plans of the Henlein leaders who are known to have crossed to Bavaria. There is popular bewilderment in Sudeten areas at what is called the flight of their leaders.

Herr Henlein's proclamation of yesterday, says the "Daily Telegraph" Prague correspondent, had an effect totally unexpected even by the Czechs. Henlein district governors, subleaders and district secretaries and ever-increasing numbers of the rarik and file are going to the Czechoslovakia political authorities protesting their unconditional allegiance to the republic. The Prague correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph" says the German Ambassador ostentatiously left Prague for Berlin. Cabinet is considering arresting Germans in reprisal for German arrests of Czechs in Austria and Germany. The first arrests are reported to have been made at Chemnitz, and later extended to all German industrial cities. The most prominent Czech citizens in each town were seized.

The Wilhelmstrasse contemptuously dismissed the Czech Minister's protest against a breach of international law.