CZECH CRISIS WORSE

Evening Star, Issue 23065, 17 September 1938, Page 22

CZECH CRISIS WORSE

WEEK-END INVASION FEARED GERMAN AMBASSADOR DEPARTS COUNTRY ENCIRCLED BY TROOPS Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, September 16. (Received September 17, at 1.5 p.m.) The 1 Daily Telegraph’s ’ Prague correspondent says it would be criminal to disguise the fact, whatever the optimism elsewhere, that Prague expects invasion and violent air attacks from Germany to begin at any moment. The temper of the Czechs at present is such that the Government dare not consent to the plebiscite proposal. Any attempt to do so would result in a military dictatorship temporarily superseding the parliamentary system. Czechoslovakia feels that the time for further conces/sions is past, and it is determined to face whatever may come, resolutely and courageously. The situation is considered so grave that official circles believe that only a public and unequivocal warning from England, France, and Russia will restrain Germany from an act of aggression, for which all preparations are now completed. Germany has now enclosed Czechoslovakia’s frontier with a girdle of troops. The German Ambassador has ostentatiously left Prague for Berlin. Cabinet is considering arresting Germans as a reprisal for the German arrests of Czechs in Austria and Germany. The ‘ Daily Telegraph’s* Berlin correspondent says the possibility of Germany taking action at the week-end to " protect ” the Sudetens if the situation is regarded as intolerable, cannot altogether be excluded. The German Press emphasises that Herr Hitler gave no pledges to Mr Chamberlain, and that he does not intend retreating an inch from the Nuremberg position, nor will German pressure on Prague slacken pending the next Chamber-lain-Hitler meeting. Financial circles suspect that Mr Chamberlain’s visit was merely a lull in the storm. The Bourse broke sharply. The ‘Daily Telegraph’s ’ Paris representative says the Bourse is disappointed at the trend of events and lost yesterday’s gains.