Cabinet Approves

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 223, 20 September 1938, Page 9

Cabinet Approves

PEACE PLAN DECISION

NEXT VISIT TO HERR HITLER

(Received 1 1 a.m.) LONDON, September 19

Cabinet, after two hours* discussion, says the Australian Associated Press, approved the Franco-British policy. No further meeting has been arranged. According to the "Daily Herald" (Labour) diplomatic correspondent, the plan proposes the transference to Germany of all districts which voted more than 75 per cent for the Henlein party at the recent municipal elections. Districts which voted less than 75 per cent, but more than 50 per cent, will be given autonomy inside Czechoslovakia. Hungarian and Polish districts will be similarly treated. The urgency to attempt to find a solution is indicated in that, though M. Daladier only reached Le Bourget at 9.40 a.m., Cabinet began its session at 10.30. Before leaving London the French delegation emphasised that no confirmation can be given rumours of decisions reached. The joint statement must be regarded as complete and accurate. The Paris Press, with one exception, supports the plan and urges the Czechs to acquiesce. "Le Soir" attacks the agreement and says: "If reports From London are true France will, for the first time, have denounced contractual obligations and will for the first time have consented to resign the French position." Official circles in Berlin appear to be completely in the dark as to the outcome of the London conference. A Foreign Office spokesman stated that everything depends on the impending meeting of Herr Hitler and Mr.' Chamberlain. The Berlin Press states that the only menace to peace now lies in Prague's obstinacy. Another Berlin message says it appears unlikely that Mr. Chamberlain and Herr Hitler will be able to arrange a meeting before Wednesday at the earliest. The Propaganda Ministry has commandeered the whole of the Godsbergerhof Hotel to accommodate 100 foreign journalists on the occasion of Mr. Chamberlain's visit. The whole of the Hotel Dreesen with 1 70 rooms has been placed at Herr Hitler's disposal by the proprietor, Fritz Dreesen, one of the oldest friends of Herr Hitler, who recuperated there in 1926. A number of guests resented the presence of the then "firebrand Hitler" and left as a protest. The Fuehrer has since had a permanent suite at the hotel, including a large balcony room overlooking the most beautiful part of the Rhine, in which he will probably receive Mr. Chamberlain. New York Press Astounded. The latest edition of the "New York Times" states: "The terms on which the British and French Governments are reported to have agreed constitute so complete a surrender that liberal opinion everywhere will prefer to regard them as incredible until they are confirmed or explained in an official statement." The paper added: "It has seemed that there were, and are, other alternatives than capitulation to threat of force so complete as to establish rule of force henceforward as the dominant factor in international relations."