CZECHOSLOVAKIA

Hokitika Guardian, 17 June 1938, Page 5

CZECHOSLOVAKIA

NAZI ATTACKS

SINISTER OUTEURSTS.

(United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyrignt).

LONDON, June 16,

The object of the present violent

German press campaign against Czechoslovakia, is clearly twofold, says tlie Berlin correspondent of the Times. Firstly, to try to convince the British peoples that the present difficult situation is entirely due to the partial Czech mobilisation, and, secondly to convey a warning that a continuance of what is called “abnormal and provocative military measures” must necessarily lead to incidents disturbing to the peace of Eur. pe.

Authoritative circles in Berlin declare that the first step toward relieving the tension must he the withdrawal of Czech troops from the frontier districts. Germany, while attempting to win British recognition of her case—or the case of the Sudeten Germans—is more than anxious to put the responsibility for the trouble On shoulders other than her own. She still hopes for a peaceful solution, but is making preparation for the worst, with propaganda. Further outbursts against Czechoslovakia have been prompted by an alleged incident on May 29, when Czechoslovakian soldiers confiscated a swastika flag from a German couple and threatened them with a bayonet, says the Berlin correspondent of the Daily Telegraph.

[ The Allgemeine Zeitung states: “As long as such incidents occur it is impossible to negotiate politically with the Czechs, who are clearly not on t!u* same level of civilisation as the other States of Europe.”' The Bo; •rson Zeitung comments: “The treatment meted out to tlie Sudeten Germans is more mean, humiliating, shameless and brutal than would he manifested by a tribe of bush negroes in a badl.v-adniinistered colony. To tolerate tlie sanguinary ruhvof the Czechs is not only a source <>l provocation to the German people, hut it is a blow in tlie face to European civi.isation. How long must Germans remain fair game -for brutalised Czech soldiers?”