WARNING TO SLOVAKIA

Evening Star, Issue 23564, 1 May 1940, Page 7

WARNING TO SLOVAKIA

TREATMENT OF HUNGARIAN MINORITY DESCRIBED AS “ NONSENSE Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright BUDAPEST, April 30. (Received May 1, at 10.35 a.m.) Count Csaky strongly warned Slovakia against persecuting the Hungarian minority of 160,000. “ Slovakia should not attempt to play off Germany against« Hungary, because Hungary trusts the stability of Hungaro-Ger-nran friendship,” bo said. “ All must recognise that Hungary will act if and when such a step is advisable. Slovakia must understand that we shall defend the rights of the Hungarians.” Slovak diplomats described Count Csaky’s warning as nonsense, and insisted that the Germans would support Slovakia. They denied any maltreatment of Hungarians, and compared it with the treatment of Slovaks living in Hungary. TRADE AGREEMENT RUSSIA WILLING TO NEGOTIATE BRITAIN INFORMED OF BASIS OF DISCUSSIONS LONDON, April 30. The ‘ Daily Herald’ says M. Maisky, the Soviet Ambassador, informed Lord Halifax that the Soviet was willing to negotiate a trade agreement on the basis that any British goods supplied to Russia would be exclusively for Russian use and would not bo re-exported to Germany, but the Soviet regarded its own exports of Russian goods, whether contraband or not. to Germany as entirely its own affair, and would not discuss restriction of this trade with any third party.. BARTER DEAL EXCHANGES OF TIMBER AND TIN v LONDON, April 30. (Received May 1, at 8 a.m.) The 1 Manchester Guardian’s ’ financial editor, commenting on the proposed Anglo-Russian trade discussions, says: “ A practical basis on the British side is the urgent need for timber. All that can possibly arise is a barter deal under which Russia can supply timber and Britain can ship tin, in addition to some other primary commodities; perhaps spare parts for British machinery now in use in the Soviet.” NOT SATISFACTORY SOVIET'S REPLY TO BRITAIN (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, April 30. (Received May 1, at 10 a.m.) M. Maisky, the Russian Ambassador, has conveyed to Lord Halifax the Soviet’s reply to the recent invitation by Britain to put forward for consideration concrete proposals for a trade agreement, having regard to the existing war situation. The reply is not considered satisfactory, but the position as it stands is being examined. SPREAD DF WAR COMMUNIST INTERNATIONAL’S WARNING MOSCOW, April 30. (Received May 1, at 9.30 a.m.) In a May Day appeal, the Communist International warned workers that the war threatens to spread to the Balkans, the Near East, and the Pacific. CONDITIONS IN GERMANY PEOPLE UNDERNOURISHED WASHINGTON April 29. An analysis by the Department of Agriculture shows that Genmany entered the present war with a large proportion of the population already inadequately nourished. In 1937 the diet was at least 15 per cent, below both 1927 and the pre-Great War levels. There is reason to assume that it further deteriorated between 1937 and August, 1939. The analysis added: “ The situation is not likely to result in serious maladjustments in the first year of the war, but the staying power and probably the health of those outside the preferred ration category will he endangered unless it is possible to augment the ration for the normal consumer. ' THE GERMAN PEDPLE MUST REALISE RESPONSIBILITIES (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, April 30. (Received May 1, at 11.4 a.ip.) Mr Chamberlain, in the House ‘of Commons, replying to the suggestion that British statements of policy should avoid complete identification of the German people and the German Government, pointed out that the Allies had not any vindictive designs against the German people, nevertheless the German people must realise their responsibilities for prolonging the war and for th.e sufferings it would bring them.