CZECHOSLOVAKIA

Hokitika Guardian, 19 September 1938, Page 5

CZECHOSLOVAKIA

A PROCLAMATION DISSOLVING SUDETEN PARTY (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright). LONDON, September 17. The Czech Government last night issued a. proclamation dissolving the Sijdeten German Party. Storm troopers were ordered to.disband, their property being confiscated. Simultaneously the authorities began measures against other “disloyal” organisations whereby future activity will' he rendered impossible.. Police have occupied and closed all the offices of the party and the premises of the Henleinist group. The Sudeten leader in Prague, Herr Kundt, in a proclamation, appealed to the Sudetens to-await the outcome of the fateful conversations between Air Chamberlain and Herr Hitler. He said: “The Czech. Government has considered it desirable to suspend the activities <:f the Sudeten people’s organisations. As leader of the parliamentary group, I say that you, pending appropriate action, should not allow yourselves to he led astray by the suspension of the parly, but should remain what you were, and. wait till Air Chamberlain and . Herr Hitler have concluded their fateful conversations.

*•'Whether or net parties or party organisations are to remain in Czpfhp.r Slovakia, is np longer a decisive issue.,. AVliat is decisive is the I act of Sudeten Germanism and the Homeland. Until a decision is taken, remain firm. Let your nerves be as steel. God be with us.”. The Prague correspondent of the “Manchester Guardian” says tlttit Herrn Kundt, Sebekowskv, Kosche and Neuwirth, the Sudeten German leaders, are remaining in Prague, where they have founded a new party with the title of the “Bohemia German ■Party,” apparently replacing the Sudeten German Party. The founders belong to the moderate wing of the former Henlein group.

MARTIAL LAW. . OPPOSITION TO PLEBISCITE. PRAGUE, September 17. The Cabinet has introduced > a- state of emergency throughout Czechoslovakia for throe months, enabling the authorities to control traffic, permit domiciliary visits, and establish the curfew. The President (Dr Benes) resisted more drastic measures. A Foreign Office spokesman said: “There is only one answer to the latest developments. We will fight if necessary. There will be no question of giving up part of our nation.” The Prague correspondent of “The Times” says the strength of Czech feeling is shown in the statement by the Deputy-Premier (Dr Kroft-a). “A plebiscite would be the shortest way to war. No government would accent it. ' If it did the whole nation would sweep them away within an hour. The nation would rather die than have the* 1 Homeland crippled.”

Dr Krofta told tho British United Press that a regional pact of nonaggressioty,and mutual assistance, comprising Czechoslovakia, Germany, Russiaj Poland and perhaps France, might solve the crisis. The difficulty of a plebiscite was that in the event of Sudetenjand becoming German, there was a possibility that the German Social Democrats, Communists and Jews would go to Czechoslovakia from the Sudeten areas, forming still another island of Germans.

The Prague correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says it would be criminal to disguise the fact that whatever optimism there is elsewhere, Prague expects: an invasion, ,\yith : ,yi<v lent air attacks from Germany, to be-, gin at any moment. The temper, of- the Czechs at preserit is such that the Government dare not consent to the plebiscite proposal. Any'attempt to do so would result in a (military /dictatorship, temporarily superseding the parliamentary system. Czechoslovakia feels the time for further concessions is past and is determined to face whatever may come resolutely and courageously. The situation is considered so grave that official circles believe that only a public- and unequivocal warning by Britain France and Russia will restrain Germany from an act of aggression for which all preparations are now completed. Germany lias now enclosed Czechoslovakia’s frontier with a girdle of troops. , Tim German Ambassador ostentatiously left Prague for Berlin.

REPORTED ATTACK. ON CZECH CUSTOMS HOUSE. (Received this day at 11 a.m.) • PRAGUE, September 18. Men are reported to have crossed the frontier from Germany at night time, and machine-gunned the customs house at Ascii. the most defenceless town in Sudetenland. because it is almost surrounded -y German territory, and forcing flu; officials to retreat until daybreak, when they returned reinforced, but found no trace of the aggressors. The customs officers, two of whom were wounded in the course of the attack, refrained from shooting. They fired rockets for assistance. Many'Sudetens arc returning from Gormany.

REQUIRES TO BE CONSULTED. (Received this day at 11 a.m.) LONDON, September IS. The Czechoslovakian Minister lias notified the British and French Governments that Czechoslovakia takes it for granted that she will he coijflnltpd before any arrival at decisions,, others Aviso she cannot accept- responsibility for them,