GREAT ENTHUSIASM

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 79, 30 September 1938, Page 9

GREAT ENTHUSIASM

CROWDS IN MUNICH

STIRRING GREETING

HEART OF THE GERMAN PEOPLE

(Received September 30, 10 a.m.)

LONDON, September 29,

Large crowds gathered at thej Munich Airport, where Union Jacks and the Tricolour were prominent. | Handbills were distributed throughout j Munich announcing that there would be a triumphal procession of Herr Hitler's guests. The main station at Munich, at which Her;- Hitler an,d Signor Mussolini arrived, ' was lavishly decorated, with busts of Herr Hitler and Sign or Mussolini facing each other. Herr Hitler and Signor Mussolini, accompanied by the members of their entourages, were the first arrivals at the Fuhrer's house. Mr. Chamberlain, accompanied by the German Foreign j Minister, Herr Ribbentrop, drove up six minutes later and were saluted by a roll of drums. Field-Marshal Goering accompanied M. Daladier. ISo great was the enthusiasm of the crowds when the dictators arrived that they broke the cordon of Storm Troopers. A few managed to shake hands with Signor Mussolini. The Duce smiled broadly, but Herr Hitler was grim. ! Mr. Chamberlain arrived at Munich ■ at 11.51 a.m. | A special correspondent of the "Star" who watched all three receptions of Mr. Chamberlain in Munich says: "There was no scene like today's. It j was as though the heart of the German j

people was greeting the British statesman who has fought so hard to bring them peace. Women rushed forward to get a close glimpse of him and waved their handkerchiefs frantically." j REFRESHMENT BEFORE WORK. , The talks were preceded by a standup buffet lunch. Herr Hitler talked with M. Daladier, while Signor Mussolini conversed with Mr. Chamberlain. After lunch the statesmen adjourned to the Fuhrer's private study, accompanied by Count Ciano, Italian Foreign Minister, Herr Ribbentrop, and M. Leger, secretary-general at Quai d'Orsay. Czech acceptance of the British plan was communicated to Munich before the opening of the conference. This implied that the .Czechs were insisting that the basis of the negotiations should remain the Anglo-Frencli-plan, the German memorandum still being rejected. - A Munich report received before the conference stated that it was expected that Herr Hitler would make charges that the Czechs were preparing to falsify the plebiscites, on the basis of reports by the German news agency that Czech gendarmes had confiscated the records of the town halls. A Nazi spokesman stated: "The Czechs are mistaken jf they'think they can obtain success by destroying their records. No Czech who cannot prove he was a resident of the Sudeten areas prior to 1918 will be able to participate in the plebiscite." It was stated that a film showing scenes of alleged Czech terrorism would be shown at the conference. Dr. Mastny, Czech Minister-in Berlin, and M. Lisicky, counsellor at the London Legation, proceeded to Munich in response to a suggestion by Mr. Cham- j berlain that they should be at the disposal of himself and M. Daladier for the purpose of information only.