Lord Runciman’s Difficult Task; Sudeten Antipathy

Northern Advocate, 30 July 1938, Page 7

Lord Runciman’s Difficult Task; Sudeten Antipathy

(Received 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, July 29. ABANDONING ITS PREVIOUS FRIENDLY RESERVE TOWARDS “ VISCOUNT RUNCIMAN, AS MEDIATOR IN THE MINORITIES QUESTION, STATES A MESSAGE FROM PRAGUE, THE SUDETEN OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER SAYS: “BRITAIN IS TRYING TO PREVENT THE IMPENDING BATTLE OF IDEOLOGIES BY ADVOCATING A COMPROMISE WHICH CANNOT PRODUCE A FUNDAMENTAL DECISION. “It would be unfair to create personal difficulties for Lord Runciman, who has nobly undertaken the task, but it is clear that the gap between the conception of the Sudeten Germans and that of the Czech Government has become so wide that it is no longer humanly possible to bridge it.”

p A Long Task. 1 Lord Runciman will submit, without [ delay, his proposals to Dr. Hodza, j Czech Prime Minister, and Herr Henleiin, leader of the Sudeten Germans. He is expected to remain in Czechoj Slovakia for a, long period to judge I the working out of any proposals sub- | mitted. | He will be accompanied by a For- [ eign Office economic expert. Mr Ashj ton G. Watkin, who is well-known as the novelist “John Paris,” also by Mr Stopford, an expert on minorities questions, as secretary. Henlein Activities. The Henlein Party has received from the Czech Government its reform pro- j posals regarding government of its minorities. Herr Henlein will be Herr Hitler’s guest on Sunday at the Reich sports and gymnastic festival at Breslau, at which Hitler is expected to speak, says the Berlin correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph.” It is understood that Viscount Runciman will leave for Prague on Tuesday. In addition to Mr Stopford. minorities expert, and Mr Ashton G. Watkiu, Foreign Office economic ex- | pert, who will travel with him, he will be accompanied by Mr Peto, former M.P. Lady Runciman will also go to .Prague.