MASS ARRESTS OF CZECHS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 118, 12 February 1940, Page 10

MASS ARRESTS OF CZECHS

Racial Oppression

CAMPAIGN TO OUST ALL JEWS By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. (Received February 11, 7.5 p.m.) LONDON, February 11. A message from Prague says that the German authorities as a protective measure took into custody between 500 and 600 leading Czechs, including M. Joseph 1 hruslar, the leader of the Czech National Movement, and 120 former Czech officers.

A report from New York states that two American Franciscan nuns, who have returned by the liner Saturnia, said that Nazis seized their church and convent 16 miles from Warsaw. Though not molested personally, the nuns in the Polish Corridor and Danzig were forced to adopt civilian clothes. Anti-Jewish Campaign. A Berlin message says that Bohemia and Moravia are to be incorporated in the Reich Customs union. The Reich Protector of Bohemia and Moravia, Dr. von Neurath, announced that the Jews are being eliminated from the protectorate’s economic life. Jewish textile, clothing and leather goods stores will close on April 1. after which the Protector is empowered to close all other Jewish businesses. Registration is announced of all Jewish shareholdings and real estate, giving with the present control of Jewish banks a complete hold over the Jews in Prague. The Gestapo has fined 300 Jews and is also bringing pressure to bear on Jews individually, ordering ali to get out, saying that they can illegally go to Palestine.

Details have just become known in London (states British official wireless) of a German decree of January 8 which in effect reduces to the status of coolies the Czech, Polish and Jewish workers in Germany. The decree, which was published in the “Reichsaar Beitsblatt” on January 15 over the signature of Herr Daeschner as “Sondertreuhander de Arbeit” (Director of Labour), places in the special category of "Arbeiter Zwciter Klasse (workers of the 2nd class) all agricultural workers in the Reich not possessing German citizenship except those employed under a State contract.

They will be paid at a lower rate and are not entitled to overtime. About 1,500,000 Poles, several hundred thousand Czechs and 10.000 Jews are alTe?ied. German workers incurring tlie displeasure of the regime run the danger of being sent to join this army of outcasts.

NEXT PEACE TERMS Must Be Settled In Berlin, Says Lord Willingdon SYDNEY. February 10. Lord Willingdon, when interviewed today, declared that New Zealand is marching solidly hand in hand with tlie rest of the Empire in its war effort. Tim loyalty and solidarity he had encountered in the Dominion were truly inspiring, he said. He added, “The next peace terms must he settled in Berlin in order to impress the Germans with our fairness, but I hope there will be no hard feeling against the German people.”