CZECH PROPOSALS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 232, 30 August 1938, Page 7

CZECH PROPOSALS

PARTIES TO MEET AGAIN. DR BENES AND SUDETENS. LORD RUNCIMAN’S TALKS. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received August 30, 9.10 a.m. PRAGUE, Aug. 29. It is authoritatively learned that Ur Penes (President) and Herr Kundt (Sudeten Leader in Parliament) will discuss the Government’s new proposals. It is also reported that Herr Henlein and Lord Runciman have agreed to meet again in a few days’ time.

The British United Press Prague correspondent reported on Friday that the Czechs had decided on greater concessions to the Sudetens, submitting as a basis for negotiations proposals that would meet four of Herr Henlein’s six demands and partially satisfy the remainder. They were aimed also at meeting the demands of the other minorities. It was later stated that there was good ground for assuming that Dr. Benes would take the initiative in reopening negotiations on a new basis, including the establishment of three German regions responsible for their own affairs, like Northern Ireland, while sending representatives to the Parliament at Prague, which would be responsible for foreign policy, defence and finance.

APPEAL TO SUDETENS. LORD RUNCIMAN’S MISSION. CONCILIATION PROPOSALS. PRAGUE, Aug. 29. Lord Runciman returned last night. Beyond the fact that his interview with Herr Henlein lasted for two hours, nothing is allowed to be known of its purport, though everywhere it is surmised that he appealed to-the Sudetens to reciprocate to the Czechs’ conciliatory gesture. Herr Henlein’s deputy (Herr Frank), f. in a speech, said: “Matters were brought before us on which it was necessary to make an immediate decision, but we cannot give up any of the rights which God conferred.” It is reliably stated that Lord Runciman to-day tried to induce Herr Henlein (the Sudeten leader) to water down the eight points in his Carlsbad speech in view of the growing gravity of the international situation.

GRAVE SITUATION.

PUBLIC WORKED UP. VIEWPOINT IN BERLIN. I BERLIN, Aug. 29. \ Well-informed circles consider the >ytuation in Czechoslovakia is particularly grave because the inspired German Press has worked up the public . ‘to expect that something positive will be done. Sir John Simon’s speech has shaken the German belief that Britain will be • passive spectator.

NUREMBERG RALLY. INVITATION ACCEPTED. Received August 30, 9.10 a.m. BERLIN, Aug. 29. The British Ambassador (Sir Neville Henderson) has provisionally accepted Herr Hitler’s invitation to attend the Nuremberg rally.. CZECHOSLOVAKIA. RICH IN INDUSTRY. Part of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy declared its independence on October 18, 1918, as the Czechoslovak Republic, and ten days later the National Council of Czechoslovakia took over the administration of the independent territories. The country’s political neighbours, following the Austrian Anschluss, are Germany and Hungary on the south, Germany and Poland on the north, Germany on the west,, and Poland and Rumania on the east. Within tiiese limits are the former Austrian provinces of Bohemia and Moravia and part of the province of Silesia; and Northern Hungary from the Danube (at Bratislava, on the German frontier) to the Carpathians (at the headwaters of the Ung River in the eastern slope of Mt. Vereezka) —a total area of about 51,877 square miles, with a population (1930) as follows:—Bohemia 7,108,766; Moravia and Silesia, 3,565,010; Slovakia, 3,329,793; Subcar-pathean-Russia, 725,357; total, 14,729,536. Of the total population it is estimated that 65.5 per cent, are Czechs and Slovaks, 23.3 per cent. Sudeten Germans, 5.5 per cent. Magyars, 3.4 per cent. Rutlienians, and 0.5 per cent. Poles. The new State was recognised by Austria in 1918 and by Hungary on March 10, 1919. The National Assembly, consisting of a Senate (150 members) and a Chamber of Deputies (300 members), is elected by universal adult suffrage of both sexes. The executive power is exercjsed by a Council of Ministers, appointed by the

President. The Constitution guarantees religious and political freedom. About 80 per cent, of the people are Roman Catholics. Bv the Peace Treaty, Czech oslo-j vakia acquired about 80 per cent, of the whole industry of the former Austrian Empire Jt has several rich coalfields, and valuable mineral resources which, notably in Slovakia, have not yet been fully developed. Radium, gold, silver, iron, graphite and lead are all mined, while the country is rich in general mineral and thermal springs. Bohemia has rich deposits of clay, kaolin and sand. The whole country is well farmed, and agricultural production is on a verv high level of excellence. Tn foodstuffs the country is almost self-supporting. Thirty-three per cent, of the total area of the country is forest land, and both in the productiveness of the forests and the rmalitv of the timber, the forest wealth of the republic is enormous. In its industrial development, Bohemia may be compared to Belgium. Tn Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia, which have a total population of 10,500,000, more than 4,00.000 people are engaged in industry. The various industries are well organised, and as regards both machinery, and modern improvements the factories are as well equipped as any in Europe. . Except in Slovakia and Ruthenia, illiteracy is almost unknown, and both the German and Czech. elements which compose the working-cUss popu-

lation are hard-working, and in many cases highly skilled. The new republic possesses, therefore, many valuable economic advantages, and it is no exaggeration to say that Czechoslovakia is in a far more flourishing state .than most of her neighbours. Czechoslovakia has no direct access to the sea, but has a right of access ovef th? Elbe *« Hamburg and Stettin, for -which purnose the Government proposes to canalise the Upper Elbe m order to connect it with the Oder .and the Danube If this proposal is carried out, the country will be traversed by a waterway affording a communication from the North Sea and the Baltic, via the Danube, to the Black Sea.