Czech Situation Not Improved

Northern Advocate, 11 August 1938, Page 7

Czech Situation Not Improved

(Received 2.30 p.m.) LONDON, August 10. After a meeting of the Sudeten Party, their headquarters issued a statement to the effect that the situation has worsened instead of improved since May 21. Recent incidents, and the murder of the Sudeten German at GJaserwald, had prompted the Government to take measures against Sudetens, which generally left the view that they were exaggerated, and not shared in other quarters, least of all by Viscount Runciman. The first direct negotiations between the Czechoslovaks and the Sudeten Party since Lord Runciman’s arrival, began today. Dr. Hodza, Czech Prime Minister, received the Sudeten deputies, and arranged further meetings. Lord Runciman will receive the Sudeten representative tomorrow.

Lord Runciman’s presence is aiding meetings of groups hitherto most widely separated. i The hopes centred in the first contact between the Sudeten representatives and Czech Coalitionists broke down. The Henlem Party would not recognise the constitutionality of the Ministerial Committee, refusing to negotiate,, except with Dr. Hcdza. A Czech Protest. An official Czech broadcast objects ' to the German “campaign of insolence which is directed against the efforts of France and Britain for European peace.” v , The latest suggestion from the German Press is that the Sudeten Party may be forced to take “measures of self-defence against the Czech terror.” The Prague correspondent of the “News Chronicle” says that military circles at Prague expect a new period of danger next week-end. Two concentrations of German troops are proceeding to the Bavarian and Austrian frontiers, especially Linz, where great masses of troops and artillery are stationed around the railway. Long-r range guns are in emplacements at Deutchealtenburg, directed towards Prague.