CZECH MINORITIES

Grey River Argus, 19 May 1938, Page 7

CZECH MINORITIES

German Question BRITISH OPPOSITION VIEWS. [Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] LONDON, May 17. It is learned in London that the Czecho-Slovakian Government has invited Herr Henlein to enter into negotiations at the earliest moment, with a view to a settlement.

Questions were addressed in the House of Commons to the Prime Minister (Mr Chamberlain), about the representations by the British Minister in Prague on the Sudeten German problem They were answered by the Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Mr R. A. Butler), as Mr Chamberlain was confined to his room in Downing Street by a slight attack of gout. Mr Butler said that the British Government’s representative in Prague (Mr B. C. Newton) had had conversations with the Czecho-Slovakian Prime Minister (Dr. Hodza), and Minister for. Foreign Affairs (Dr. Krofta) about this. The British Government had not suggested to the Czecho-Slo-vakian Government any particular measures or concessions to Germany, but had urged the desirability with which the_ Czecho-Slovakian Government was in full agreement, of doing everything possible to further an agreed settlement of the problem. “Matters have not yet reached a stage when I can usefully make a further statement,” he added. Mr Arthur Henderson (Labour), asked: “Will the Government give no support to any concession which will destroy the effective defence of Czecho-Slovakia ?”

Mr Butler replied: "I have stated that we have not suggested to the Czecho-Slovakian Government any particular measure of concession.”

He declined to add to the statement, when a Conservative backbencher asked whether the British Government would resist the claims of minorities in Czecho-Slovakia to dictate to the Czecho-Slovakian Government the nature of its foreign policy. Mr Butler also returned no reply to Sir Archibald Sinclair, leader of the Liberals, when he asked: “Does the Government realise that in making these representations in Prague it is assuming a heavy moral responsibility ?” In answer to another question, Mr Butler said that Herr Heinlein, on his recent visit to London, had not been received by any member of the Government. The report of a meeting between Mr Malcolm MacDonald, then Dominions Secretary, and Herr Henlein was without foundation, nor did Herr Henlein visit the Foreign Office. He had met Sir Robert Vansittart (Chief Diplomatic Adviser to the Foreign Office), with whom he was already acquainted, on a purely private occasion.