OFFICIAL REPORT

Hokitika Guardian, 19 September 1938, Page 5

OFFICIAL REPORT

A GRAVE POSITION LORD RUNCIMAN PRESENT. , (Per British Official Wireless). RUGBY, September 17. Many earnest consultations in London began with the visit to No. 10 Downing Street of ’Lord Runciman, who returned frbih (i ‘Pragiie yesterday. Soon after his' ai'rivaT die joined the Ministers ,at a Cabinet' meeting bit ;.which the Prime Minister \Mr Chamberlain) discussed the situation in the light of tlie visit to Herr Hitler -with the so-called “Inner Council of Cabinet,” comprising the Foreign Secretary (Lord Halifax), the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Sir John Simon), and tile Home Secretary (Sir Samuel Hoare). Civil service advisers present at that meeting included Sir Robert Vansittart and Lord Cadogan. Tliis morning’s consultations between Air Chamberlain and-Lord Runciman lasted until the Ministers began to, arrive at Downing Street for the lull meeting of Cabinet. While Cabinet was in sessionAlr Ashton AVatkin, Lord Runciman’s secretary, who returned with Lord Runciman from Prague, was called to'Downing Street. In view of the continuing gravity of the situation the newspapers welcome the fact that events are being lifted from the control of hot temper into the atmosphere of cool but resolute statesmanship. Restraint is displayed in discussing critical problems, and while developments are awaited here with anxious calm, hopes are expressed that a similar attitude will be observed elsewhere. “The Times” says: “It is indeed much to be hoped that all parties in Bohemia and outside it, in spite of inflamed tempers, will heed Lord Runciman’s parting appeal to them to refrain from action which will further aggravate the.situation. The Sudetens have certainly done quite enough with their demonstrations, their songs, their smashing of windows, and their attacks on policemen, to show that a very large section of them—at the moment, no doubt—the vast majority of them—desires union with Germany. Further indulgence in lawlessness and violence can only damage their case in the eyes of the world—and this is a matter in which, whatever the solution, the opinion of the world must count for very much

“Nor will any unbiased observer pay too much heed of the tales of .ruthlessness by the Czech police. The Czech Government cannot, and obviously will not. abdicate its function of maintaining order. “The double purposes of the British Government remains in any case unmistakable—to find a just solution, while throwing its whole weight against a violent attempt at settlement, ' and thus seeking to preclude that appeal to force which all Europe might be compelled to answer. What the British AJinisters are attempting is to work in < the spirit of the Covenant, whether it be conciliation or revision.

“When the British Government, first, by encouraging Lord Runciman’s mediatory mission in Prague, and now, by the direct intervention of the Prime - Minister, set itself deliberately and energetically to find a peaceful way out of the dangerous impasse, it has tlie dear right to expect and demand co-operation, most of all from those who base themselves upon the weight and reality of their grievances.”

No arrangements have yet been made for the return of the King to Balmoral. His Majesty is being kept in dose touch with the developments of the international situation, and his audience of Mr Chamberlain at Buckingham Palace last night lasted more than an hour. Lord Runcimnn had lunch with His Majesty to-day, and reported on his mission as mediator in Czechoslovakia.

The Parliamentary Opposition leaders are being kept informed of developments, which are also being ‘fully communicated to the Dominion Governments.