POLISH DEMANDS

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 224, 22 September 1938, Page 11

POLISH DEMANDS

VERGE OF CONFLICT?

RISINGS AGAINST CZECHS (Received 1 p.m.) , LONDON, September 21. Polish demands against the Czechs speedily reached a climax by the announcement that the Polish Minister at Prague had handed to Dr. Krofta a Note referring to the Czech Government's declaration that the Polish population would not be discriminated against as compared with other nationals, adding that Poland "expects the Czechs to settle the question of territories inhabited by Poles similarly to Sudetenland. Accordingly the Polish-Czech agreement of 1925 concerning the Polish minority is void and is hereby renounced." Simultaneously it was officially announced that owing to troop movements the railways in Southern Poland were closed to civilian traffic. The decision to retain reservists after manoeuvres brings the army strength to 600,000. The Warsaw correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph" says the possibility of a Polish-Czech conflict is seriously envisaged. Martial organisations are being prepared throughout Poland. The National Unity Camp, which is officially organised, issued a manifesto calling a huge assembly for to-morrow in order to declare that the Polish nation stands firm in defence of their brothers* rights and abolition of artificial frontiers. To-night's demonstrations also emphasised solidarity with Hungary. A crowd, organised by the youth organisations, marched to the Hungarian Legation shouting: "We want a common frontier with Hungary." They attempted to approach the Czech Legation, but police in armoured cars prevented them. Meanwhile, Polish refugees from Czechoslovakia sent a message to the Ex-Servicemen's Association urging the organisation of a legion to liberate the Poles in Czechoslovakia. Peasants in the neighbourhood of the Czech frontier passed a resolution demanding the use of force if the Czechs will not return Teschen. War veterans in Warsaw similarly passed a resolution, while the youth organisations affirmed their readiness to place themselves at the disposal of the Army. Clashes between Poles and Czechs are reported from Teschen, which wealthy Czech merchants are leaving. A crowd demonstrated,at the Czech Legation and shouted: "Down with traitors," and smashed windows. The Australian Associated Press learns that the Polish and Hungarian Governments have notified the British Government that they desire die rights of their minorities in Czechoslovakia to be considered in any settlement which, may follow the FrancoBritish proposals for a settlement of the Sudeten German problem. It is officially announced in Warsaw that the military class due for release yesterday will now remain with the colours.