CZECH PROPOSALS

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 107, 9 May 1938, Page 9

CZECH PROPOSALS

DEFENCE OF INDEPENDENCE

DETERMINED STAND

(United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) PRAGUE, May 7. The Foreign Minister, Dr. Krofta, announced that the new nationality statute that the Government is preparing will apply equally to all minorities. "We are making every concession demanded, except any which would in the smallest degree endanger the security of the State or its present frontiers," he said. "We therefore reject those demands of the Henlein Party which affect our sovereignty and independence which we are determined to defend." British and French Ministers separately visited Dr. Krofta and delivered similar messages, stating that Britain and France were ready to assist to solve the Sudeten question. The messages emphasise that it is expected that a solution can be found compatible with Czech integrity. It is hoped that the most generous possible concessions will be granted.

The correspondent of "The Times' at Prague reported on May 3 that a national statute framed by the Minister, Dr. Hodza, to meet the Sudeten Germans' grievances was Believed to include the following provisions:—Extension of the law to enable the German language to ranK equal with the Czech or Slovak languages; cultural autonomy to minorities in conjunction with Provision in a separate Budget for cultur and educational administration on national lines for minorities and the administration of all cultural cational interests, including schoo s, in the language of each respec ive minority; employment of cml ser vants proportional to the minority in Sttato *h« .total portional participation ™ r ] ties in governmental and municipal contracts; establishment of a speci controller's office in which the mmon ties will be proportionately rep Sed to supervise the impartial administration of the provisions of the

statute.