CRITICAL DAYS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 230, 27 August 1938, Page 9

CRITICAL DAYS

■ CENTRAL EUROPEAN ISSUE MOTIVES BEHIND SUDETENS’ DEMANDS (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received August 27, 12.30 p.m. LONDON, Aug. 2G. The Australian Associated Press says that events in the last 24 hours make it unmistakeable that Europe is facing the most critical days since the War. The opinion is growing that there are more sinister motives behind the Sudetens’ continual delaying tactics in the Czechoslovakian dispute than appear on the surface. Britain realises that Dr. Hodza’s negotiations are fast developing into a race against time. It is feared in official circles that every effort must be made to hasten a solution of the problem before the Nazi Congress, even if it means patching up the situation in order to remove the slightest cause for outside interference. PROCLAMATION ISSUED. The gravity of the situation is increased by the issue by members of the. Henlein Party of a proclamation described by the Daily Telegraph’s Prague correspondent as “dangerous and defiant, issued for no other purpose than to provoke a conflict.” ( The proclamation says the party no longer assumes responsibility for the freedom of property of members, consequently they are free to exercise their right of _ self-defence where attacked. It claims that incidents have hitherto been passed over with confidence that the Government would end • the Marxist irresponsible Czech terrorism. This no longer is possible. The Times Berlin correspondent describes this as the most sinister report from Prague for some time, declaring that precisely such a development had been feared by foreign observers. The situation is now so delicate that any serious incident in Czechoslovakia might have the gravest consequences, says the correspondent. The correspondent adds that it is reiterated in Berlin that British public opinion will not support more than peaceful intervention in Czechoslovakia. It is on this that many in Germany base their outlook.