CZECHOSLOVAKIA AND HUNGARY

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22534, 17 October 1938, Page 9

CZECHOSLOVAKIA AND HUNGARY

NEGOTIATIONS NOW

RESUMED

TROOPS MOBILISED AT WEEK-END DOUBT OF GERMAN SUPPORT FOR DEMANDS (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT.) (Received October 16, 9.20 p.m.) BUDAPEST, October 15. The Hungarlan-Czech negotiations, which were yesterday reported to hav§ broken down, are being resumed. " That Hungary meant business was revealed by a 'decree mobilising at the week-end five classes totalling 300,000 men. It was explained that this was necessary because of the breakdown of negotiations, and because of Czechoslovakia’s threatening attitude. A Geneva message says that the Czech delegation made a statement that terrorists under the direction of the Hungarian General Staff were spreading havoc in Ruthenia in order to provoke Hungarian intervention or a plebiscite. Three hundred Hungarians are reported to have been arrested.

It was reported yesterday that a state of tension existed throughout Hungary following the breakdown ii. the Czech-Hungarian negotiations. This ckm'e as a bombshell to the public, who were encouraged to expect a speedy settlement including the restitution of at least the old Hungarian territories. The Hungarians insisted that they were not prepared to accept treatment differing from that accorded Germany and Poland, and they demanded the immediate transfer of all predominantly Hungarian frontier zones. They also insisted that thr 1910 census must be the basis of the negotiations, whereas the Czechs claimed that the 1930 census should be the basis.

Cabinet has decided on additional military precautions pendfhg the four Powers’ reply to the Hungarian Note. It - is regarded in some quarters as partial mobilisation. The Minister for Defence (General Argeshanu) and the Under-Secre-tary for Defence (M. Glatz) have resigned. Germany’s Problem A, Berlin ,message says that in addition to the Czech Ambassador (M. Chvalkovsky), Herr Hitler received Dr. Daranyi, the former Hungarian Prime Minister, who flew to Munich after the breakdown in the Czecho-slovakiah-Hungarian negotiations. The Berlin correspondent of “The Times" states that Dr. Daranyi asked that the Czechoslovakian-Hungarian dispute should be taken up by the Munich Powers. Germany feels that it is difficult to support Poland and Hungary in their demands which, if granted, go beyond the teAns accepted by the Reich. Moreover, Germany is perplexed because she does not desire to offend Signor Mussolini, who continues to support Hungary. The Hungarian Ambassador at Rome has appealed to Signor Mussolini to summon thp Munich “Big Four.”

Meanwhile, according to the correspondent of the British United Press, the situation has been discussed among London, Paris, Rome, and Berlin. The' view is expressed in Rome that a speedy settlement is essential to avoid trouble.

CZECH FORCES ON BORDER

INTENTION TO HOLD SLOVAKIA “DEFENCE TO LAST MAN” (Received October 16, 9.12 p.m.) BRATISLAVA, October 15. Speaking successively in the Czech and Slovak languages. General Prchala, Czech commander in Slovakia, broadcast his intention of defending Slovakia to the last man. He added that forces Would remain 1 on the Hungarian border until peace was assured.

DISSATISFACTION OF SLOVAKS

PLEBISCITE WANTED ON RETURN TO HUNGARY

LONDON, October 14,

Ruthenian husk bread, reputedly the poorest food in the world, was served in the sumptuous Savoy Hotel when Professor Francis Jehlicks, successor to the late Father Hlinka as chairman of the Slovak Council, offered bread to the diplomatic correspondents of British and Dominion newspapers, symbolising the poverty of the Slovaks under Czech domination. Professor Jehlicks claimed that the autonomy granted to Slovakia was farcical. The Slovaks demanded a plebiscite to decide the right of return to Hungary, to which Slovakia had been attached for 1000 years. Reunion was essential geographically and ethnologically. Professor Jehlicks had important interviews in London, and he will visit Berlin and Rome seeking assistance. _