MEMEL FOR GERMANY?

Grey River Argus, 13 December 1938, Page 7

MEMEL FOR GERMANY?

NAZIS WIN ELECTION Agitation Launched [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] LONDON,'December 11. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Memel ' correspondent says: Bertuliet, Deputy Leader of the Meme! Germans, made the first formal demand for the return to its Reich during a speech. He declared-it was separated against its will and now desired reunion. The elections to-day would be a. plebiscite. He added , that a legal demahd wouid be raised when. the Diet met at the end of January. . ’ The “Daily Herald’s” Prague . correspondent J says: Diplomats here express the opinion that the Ukraine will' be Europes Manchukou with Germany playing the role of Japan, in view'of Germany’s increased influence in the Carpathian Ruthenia. (Received December 12, 10.45 p.m.) MEMEL, December 12.

The Nazis claim to have won at least 26 out of the 29. scats' in the Memel elections. > The poll was a record one, 96 per cent, voting. BELGRADE, December 11. Polling in the general election opened this morning. The Government Party, under Premier Stoyadinovitch is leading in nine provinces. Doctor Matschek’s party is leading in Croa-tian-Dalmatian provinces. ■* LONDON, December 11. The Memel population, to-day, is , going to the poll to elect a new auton- | omous Diet for three years. The I candidates' represent one German and | four Lithuanian parties. The position in the last Diet Was: Germans 24, Lithuanians 5/ The result of the election is unlikely t 0 be known for a week owing to the complicated* procedure, but the Germans hope to secure 27 of the 29 seats.. The campaign is notable for the fact that a section of Germans, for the first time has definitely adopted the label Nazi, and for the first time has been permitted ■to circulate election propaganda. • ’ The streets yesterday were patrolled by uniformed top-booted guards of Dr. Neumann, the 50-year-old veterinary surgeon, who is adopting a role similar to Henlein in Czechoslovakia. The Germans, to-day, are polling with instructions to. “vote for union with the Reich.” MEMEL, December 11. Robert Sellmer, a young American journalist, complains that he was beaten during his hour’s detention in a police station. He says he was' attacked in the street by uniformed Neumann guards, for not acknowledging the Nazi salute.’ Policemen intervened and took him to the station., They seemed angry because, knowing little German, he replied in English. They clubbed him six times, and eventually threw him out into the' street. (Received 7.45 p.m;, December 12.) LONDON, December 12. The “Daily" Telegraph’s” Memel correspondent says: Herr Neumann, interviewed, fully confirmed the “back to the Reich” intention. He added that the Memel Germans had so far been disciplined, but he was doubtful whether lie would be able to control the younger and more hotheaded followers after the election. Asked how a return of Memel to Germany would be compatible with Herr Hitler’s declaration that he had no further territorial claims in Europe, he declared that the Memellanddrs, like the Austrians arid the Sudetens, could not be deterred from exercising self determination.