BRITISH ATTITUDE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 229, 26 August 1938, Page 7

BRITISH ATTITUDE

CENTRAL EUROPEAN PROBLEM.

SUPPORT FOR FRANCE.

OBLIGATIONS' TO CZECHS

(United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) LONDON, Aug. 25. An important conference took place to-day between the Prime Minister (Mr. Neville Chamberlain), the Foreign Secretary (Lord Halifax), the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Sir John Simon), and the Chief Diplomatic Adviser to the Government (Sir Robert Vansittart). According to the Daily Mail’s political correspondent, a decision was reached at this conference as a result of which the British Government will make a fresh declaration of its attitude toward the Czech situation in the next few days. The declaration will take the lorni of an unmistakeable assurance to France that Britain will support her should she become involved in any conflict as a result of fulfilling her treaty obligations to the Czechs. Diplomatic correspondents here, while all admitting the importance of the conference, variously interpret the weight that may be attached to tho conflicting views as to the seriousness of the situation in Central Eurqpo. The diplomatic correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says that it is recognised in London, as elsewhere, that the situation calls for vigilance, and adds that Mr Ashton Watkin, Lord llunciman’s adviser on his mission to Prague, who returned to London to-day, had an informal conference with Lord Halifax. The diplomatic correspondent of the News Chronicle says that trouble has been predicted on several occasions, but the rumour has never been more precise than at present. There is not the slightest doubt that well-informed people in Germany and elsewhere fear a very grave incident alter the Nazi Party rally at Nuremberg early in September. It is believed that plan is being prepared to make tho Czechs appear responsible. The diplomatic correspondent of the Daily Mail says that members of tho British Government have felt that the time is rapidly approaching when something must bo done to arrest tho rapidly-growing tension in Central Europe, and that how this can best be done is understood to have been discussed. • The diplomatic correspondent of the Manchester Guardian says that Czechoslovakia, rather than Spain, is the chief preoccupation of the authorities in France .and Britain. Signs of impatience in Berlin at the delay in the drafting of a satisfactory minorities statute are evident. Germany does not wish to appear to be an aggressor, but it is believed both in Paris and in Prague that any violence in the Sudctenland would be interpreted as aggression and would bo followed by armed intervention by Germany.

MISSION IN PRAGUE. HOPES FOR SOLUTIO r ; t -■> - • ■ CO-OPERATION URGED. (British Official Wireless.) Received August 26, 10.42 a.m. RUGBY, Aug. 25. Mr A. G. Watkin gave Lord Halifax and Sir John Simon an account of Lord Runciman’s work in Prague. By its very nature Lord Runciman’s mission of conciliation was bound to take been called in to act as an arbitrator or had been engaged merely in preparlonger to show results than if he had ing° a report for submission in any particular quarter, he said.

Nevertheless Press reports from Prague have shown that the miss:on7 even in its present stage, has not been without appreciable effect Tt is understood the impression which tbe two Ministers gained from Mr AVutkin is that nil agreed and peaceful solution is not beyond the reach of wise statemansliip, if that quality is forthcoming from both sides and all the parties concerned. Britain lias made it very clear that in its view such a settlement is essential, not only in the interests of Czechoslovakia and the Sudetens, but to safeguard European peace.

During recent weeks the dangers inherent in the present situation !i?ve become an increasing cause of preoccupation in London, where it. is hoped the critical juncture at which it stands will he seen bv both .sides to imnose responsibility for making a necessary contribution to an agreement. „ .

Lord Halifax has returned to Yorkshire, and Air AVatkin will return to Prague at the end of the week.