After Czechs Agreed

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 221, 26 September 1938, Page 7

After Czechs Agreed

SUBSTITUTE PLAN PROMPTLY DECLINED FRENCH CONCURRENCE (United Press Association.—Copyright.—Ree. 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, September 25. A broadcast by the Prague Government states that Britain and France, when presenting new demands, stated that they could not accept the responsibility of advising Czechoslovakia against mobilisation. "The world knows that on Wednesday last we accepted proposals including cession, after delineation of new borders by an international commission, of Sudeten territories. This concession was made because Ministers in Britain and France approached us with a request and a statement that, unless we did accept. France could not come to our aid and Britain would no longer be interested. "We accepted the proposals because we desired to preserve world peace, for which we are prepared to go to great lengths. Mr. Chamberlain returned to Herr Hitler with our acceptance, whereupon Herr Hitler immediately raised new demands and new conditions. "At 6.15 p.m. on Friday the British and French Ministers at Prague informed the Czechoslovakian Government that Britain and France could no longer take the responsibility of advising as to remain passive, and could not recommend us to make military preparations. At the same time they gave the Government to understand that, although a memoradum was being delivered through their intermediary, this was done without advice on our subsequent procedure. Powers Approve Mobilisation. "Our mobilisation was with the knowledge, advice and approval of the Great Powers. "The Great Powers have recognised that the new conditions cannot be regarded as a basis for further negotiations. The Great Powers also decided to take military precautions themselves. We have now manned the frontiers and given strict orders that soldiers must not fire a single shot. Not one of our soldiers stands on foreign territory. On the other hand attacks from the enemy side continue. There is no other way open to us but mobilisation, because we were clearly told that if we did not mobilise the responsibility for open conflict might rest with us. Only by manning the frontiers could we have some chance of avoiding a conflict." Czechoslovakia regards the proposals as involving absolute capitulation of the Czech State. The areas marked red on the German plan include places where it is asserted Germans are not more than 50 per cent of the inhabitants. The "Daily Telegraph's" diplomatic correspondent says the Czechs regard the proposals as wholly unacceptable. The same view wasnow vigorously expressed in the British Cabinet in the past 48 hours, it being conceded that it was for the Prague Government to express its views unhampered. j j"T*t Paris co "espondent says the Government decided that the German memorandum was unacceptable, which M. Daladier and M. Bonnet conveyed to the British Cabinet.