“CZECHOSLOVAKIA BLACKMAILED”

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22358, 23 March 1938, Page 11

“CZECHOSLOVAKIA BLACKMAILED”

Demands of German

Minorities

indications of ■

Outspoken Speeches

Delivered

ftSW&a PRMS ASSOCIATION COPVKTOUT.*

(Received March 22,‘ 9 p.m.)

PRAGUE, March 22

There have been numerous meetings of Sudeten Germans at which outspoken speeches were delivered, eulogising Germany as a guarantor for the attainment of autonomy. Other indications of restlessness have occurred. The German Social Democrats, although supporting the Government, demanded special relief for the distressed Sudeten areas, and further guarantees on schools and labour questions. The German Catholics have- appointed a committee to negotiate with the Government. They claim legal regulation of Czech and German relations. The newspaper “Ceskoslovo” declares that the Sudeten Germans are blackmailing the frontier districts and threatening the population with a “day of judgment” unless they join the Henlein Party.

[i new “NEUTRAL

BELT”

POLAND’S SCHEME FOR EASTERN EUROPE

PRODUCT OF LITHUANIAN*

SETTLEMENT

(Received March 23. 12.5 a.m.)

WASHINGTON, March 22. The Polish Ambassador (Count Jerzy Potocki) described to journalists Poland’s hope, as a result of the rapprochement with Lithuania.

of forming a “neutral belt” of eastern European nations, extending the Baltic to the Black Sea vMs would include Poland, RuaWnia, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. They would carry out the same programme as proclaimed by the Oslo powers to the Western Powers, namely, that they would be united against aggression by economic treaties and would avoid commitments to east or west.

AUSTRIA CEASES TO EXIST

GERMAN NOTE TO LEAGUE OF NATIONS

(Received March 22, 9 p.m.)

GENEVA, March 21

A Note from the German Government informs the League of Nations that Austria as a sovereign State has ceased to exist.

THE JEWISH PURGE IN AUSTRIA

MORE BRUTAL PERSECUTION THAN IN GERMANY

LONDON. March .21

The Geneva correspondent of “The Times” says a communique issued by the Secretariat of the World Jewish Congress states that the persecution of Jews in Austria is even Wore brutal than any hitherto employed in the Reich. , Suicides in the first four days ot the regime resulted in 140 interments in Jewish, cemeteries. The offices of all Jewish organisations have been closed and all funds seized._

GERMAN MINISTERS ON TOUR

VISIT TO BALKAN * CAPITALS '

(Received March 22, 9 p.m.)

LONDON, March 22

The Berlin correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says Fieldmarshal Goering will go to Jugoslavia after the Austrian plebiscite 011 “an official visit.” Experts from the office of the Four-Year Plan discuss increasing the' supply of Jugoslav wood to Germany.

Foreign Minister (Hen von ttibbentrop) about the same time go to Warsaw, after which he visit the capitals of the Balkan wates and Turkey as part of a campaign for the intensifying of german political activity- in eastern E 'irone. ■ : -