CZECH MINORITY STATUTE

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22466, 29 July 1938, Page 11

CZECH MINORITY STATUTE

Determination Of Nationality MOTHER TONGUES RECOGNISED German Newspapers Hostile tafITED PRESS ASSOCIATION— COPYIIICHT. I (Received July 28, 2 p.m.) LONDON. July 27. The Czechoslovakian nationality statute provides for no discrimination on the ground of language, race, and religion. Citizens' nationality is determined by a person's mother tongue, but after he is 18 he can freely choose any nationality whose language he speaks fluently. Elections for Parliament and the local councils will be carried out on the basis of proportionality, civil servants being chosen from various races in accordance with the percentage of the population, which will also determine the allocation of public funds and State contracts. Schools will be granted full selfdetermination. Penalties, including denationalisation, are provided for the persecution of citizens on account of race, religion, or political opinion. The German newspapers attack the statute, adding fresh tension to the previously calmer atmosphere and insinuating that Prague has already begun to sabotage Lord Runciman's attempt to arrive at a solution. Lord Runciman will submit definite proposals to the Czech Prime Ministei (Dr. Hodza) and the Sudeten leader 'Herr Henlein) to assist in a settlement of the Czech-Sude-ten dispute, but these will be on his own responsibility and independent of the British Government. Lord Runciman will go to Prague on August 1, strictly as a private Individual.