British Influence In Czech-Sudenten Search For Peace

Northern Advocate, 27 July 1938, Page 7

British Influence In Czech-Sudenten Search For Peace

(Received 10 a.m.) LONDON, July 2G. 'JHE MAIN NEGOTIATION BETWEEN THE CZECH GOVERNMENT AND THE SUDETEN GERMANS ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN PRAGUE NEXT WEEK, PROBABLY IN THE PRESENCE OF VISCOUNT RUNCIMAN, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE BRITISH BOARD OF TRADE, SAYS “THE TIMES.” ‘ ' The. President of Czechoslovakia, Dr. Benes, and the Prime Minister, Dr. Hcdza, have informed the British Government that they are prepared to go to the full limit of the advice that Lord Runciman may give—as long as the sovereignty of the Czechoslovak State is safeguarded.' “I absolutely rule out war as a means of solving the Sudeten problem,” Herr Henlein, leader of the Sudeten Germans, told the special correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” at Eger, Czechoslovakia. “There will be no war as far as we are concerned. We do not want our homes converted into battlefields.”

i Early Settlement Essential. Nevertheless, Herr Henlein could not. deny that serious internal disorders were likely if a settlement were much longer delayed. “We do not ask for annexation by Germany,” said Herr Henlein. “We are not opposed to the Czech State, but we are definitely opposed to the oppression under the existing regime. “I repeat, nothing short of full autonomy will be acceptable to us. We are prepared to leave the defence and foreign affairs in the hands of the Central Government, but everything else must be left to autonomist nationality groups.” The Prime Minister, Mr Neville Chamberlain, in the House of Commons, staid that as the result of a request from Czechoslovakia, Viscount Runciman would go to Prague to mediate independently of all Governments, including the British. He would in no sense be an arbitrator. Britain urged the Czechs to submit their proposals to Herr Henlein, Sudeten German leader, before submitting them to Parliament.