QUIETER TONE IN PRAGUE

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22492, 29 August 1938, Page 11

QUIETER TONE IN PRAGUE

European Crisis Now

Easier

PRESS OUTBURST

IN BERLIN .*

Article in Czech

Newspaper

(UNTIED PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT.)

(Received August 28, 10.30 p.m.)

LONDON, August 27.

After yesterday’s alarums and excursions, there is a quieter atmosphere in Prague in spite of an outburst in the Berlin press blaming the Prague censor for not suppressing a Czech newspaper which described the German soldiers in the world war not as soldiers but as beasts.

The Sudetens’ proclamation relaxing discipline is much deplored in official circles in London, which welcomed the Czech Government’s conciliatory suggestion of a new basis for the negotiations with the object of meeting the Sudetens’ demands.

i CRITICAL DAYS IN EUROPE

PROCLAMATION ISSUED BY SUDETENS

ALLEGED VIOLATION OF

LAW

LONDON, August 26

The Australian Associated Press States that events in the last 24 hours make it unmistakable that Europe is facing the most critical days since the war..

The opinion is growing that there are mpre sinister motives behind the Sudetens’ continual delaying .tactics than appear on the surface. Britain realises that" the negotiations conducted by the Czech Prime Minister (Dr. Hodza) are fast developing into a race against time.' It is feared in official circles that every effort

niust be made to hasten a solution , of the problem before the Nazi Congress, even if this means patching

' uj>" the. situation in order to remove : _,the .slightest cause-for outside interference. ‘ The gravity of the situation has ■ been increased by the issue by members of the Henlein Party of a prowhich is described by the Prague correspondent «f the “Daily Telegraph" as “dangerous and defiant and issued for no other purpose than to provoke a conflict.” The proclamation is to the effect that the party no longer assumes responsibility for the freedom and property of members. Consequently ■ they are free to exercise the right of self-defence where they are attacked. It claims that incidents have hitherto been passed over with confidence that the Government would end the Marxist and irresponsible Czech terrorism. This is no longer possible. “Sinister Report” The Berlin correspondent of “The Times” describes this as the most sinister report from Prague for some time. He declares that precisely such a development was feared by foreign observers. The situation is now so delicate that any serious incident in Czechoslovakia might have the gravest consequences. He adds: “It is reiterated in Berlin that British public opinion would not support more than peaceful intervention in Czechoslovakia. It is pn this that many in Germany base their outlook.” - The Prague correspondent of “The Times” states that there is no doubt that the situation is more tense than \ at any time since the dispute began. The Henlein Party- proclamation drew a stern broadcast warning from the Government, declaring that the signatories had assumed an unauthorised role. The proclamation was a violation of the law, and anyone endangering the peace under the proclamation would meet with the most energetic police measures. Germany is reported to haye informed the Powers that she still desired a peaceful solution, but that if the delay is prolonged she will give every support" to the Sudetens. The German Foreign Office, however, denies this reported demarche, which has not been received directly by France or Britain, but the Prague correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” and the Paris representative of the “Daily Mail” state that Germany has approached Russia, Rumania, and Jugoslavia to ascertain their attitude in the event of intervention.

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The Prague correspondent of the Daily Telegraph” states that Moscow replied that Russia would aid the Czechs, and it emphasised that France is similarly placed under her obligations. The text of the replies from Belgrade and Bucharest are Uncertain, but it is pointed out that Rumania is unlikely to limit her backing to the Czechs. Under the terms of the Little Entente pact it is also impossible for Jugoslavia to resist pressure by Slavic feeling aroused by a conflict involving Czechoslovakia and Russia! u The Paris representative of the Daily Mail” understands that Germany asked Jugoslavia and Rumania for undertakings of neutrality, basing the reguest on the assertion that intervention for the purpose of protecting minorities , was not able to be construed as an attack. . The Berlin correspondent of the News-Chronicle” states that the i*3zi Foreign Minister (Herr Von Rmbentrop) called a conference of Ambassadors and Ministers in North and South-America to report on the reactions in the event of a European war, and the attitude towards German policy generally, particularly South America, where the in-

fluence of the United States is growing and there is increasing hostility towards Germany. The Prague correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” states that the authorities know that the Henlein Party proclamation and the German demarche are closely connected. The proclamation is part of a plan to provide an excuse for a invasion, It is little less than a summons for a civil, war when a conflict is provoked and an excuse for an invasion is found. The Powers and Peace Dr. Hubert Ripka, the leading Czech publicist, who is in the closest touch with the Czech President (Dr. Benes), in setting out what can be regarded as the Czechs' last' word, declares: “We are prepared to revise our proposals and adopt a new basis for negotiations, but we will not accept anything laming our independence. Only the Great Powers can avoid the catastrophe of war by making Germany realise, before it is too late, that an attack on Czechoslovakia will mean a European war. In the hands of responsible French and British statesmen lies the decision as to whether peace will be maintained or , shattered in a new and terrible war.” The Sudeten problem continues to engage the anxious attention of official circles in London. Great emphasis is laid oh the importance of maintaining the right atmosphere during what is recognised to be a critical, if a more hopeful, stage of the negotiations in Prague, states a British Official Wireless message. ■ No details are known regarding the reported new basis of approach in the 'discussions, but the renewed efforts to reach an agreement attributed in these reports to Czechoslovakia are welcomed as showing a determined, spirit of conciliation, which, in the British view, the situation demands from all concerned. The hops -is expressed that an equally conciliatory attitude will be displayed on the side of the Sudetehs. Moreover, it is felt that the tendency which is still apparent in sections of the German press to make much of minor incidents for the purpose of newspaper attacks on the Czechs and on the good faith of the Prague Government, is much to be regretted.