Sudeten Leader Definite

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 175, 27 July 1938, Page 5

Sudeten Leader Definite

No War Will Come From His Party BUT MUST HAVE TULL AUTONOW" "RESENT BEING TREATED LIKE AFRICANS” United Prese Association. —Ev Electric Telegraph-—CopyrUcht. Received Tuesday, 11.10 pan. LONDON, July 26. •*I absolutely rule out war as a means of solving the Sudeten problem,’* Herr Henlein (leader of tho Sudeten Party) told the special correspondent of tho Daily Telegraph at Eger. “There will be no war as far as we are concerned,” he added. “We do not want our homes converted into battlefields.” Nevertheless he could not deny that serious internal disorders would be likely if a settlement were much longer delayed. “We do not ask for annexation to Germany.’* Herr Henlein continued. “We are not opposed to the Czech State, but we are definitely opposed to the oppression of the existing regime. We resent being treated like Africans, subject to alien overseers. “I repeat that nothing short of full autonomy will be acceptable to us. We are prepared to leave defence and foreign affairs in the hands of the central Government, but everything else must be left to autonomous nationality groups.” EARLY NEGOTIATIONS EXPECTED CZECHS PREPARED FOR FRIENDLY SETTLEMENT Received Tuesday, 11.5 p.m. LONDON, July 26. The main negotiations between the Czech Government and the Sudeten Germans are expected to begin at Prague next week, probably in the presence of Lord Runciman, says The Times. Drs. Benes and Hodza have informed the British Government that they are prepared to go the full limit of the advice that Lord Runciman may give—na long as the sovereignty of the Czechoslovak State is safeguarded.