MEMEL ELECTIONS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 13 December 1938, Page 7

MEMEL ELECTIONS

BACK TO THE REICH GERMAN PARTY’S SLOGAN STATE OF EMERGENCY CREATED CLASHES BETWEEN NAZIS AND SOCIALISTS U P.A.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright! LONDON, 12th December. The population of Memel went to the polls yesterday to elect a new autonomous Diet for three years. The candidates represent one German party and four Lithuanian parties. In the last Diet the Germans held 24 seats and the Lithuanians 5. The result of the election is not likely to be known for a week, because of the complicated procedure, but the Germans already claim to have won 26 out of 129 seats. There was a record poll, 96 per cent, of the population voting. The campaign is notable for the fact that a section of the Germans for the first time have definitely adopted the label Nazi and for the first time have been permitted to circulate election propaganda. Yesterday the streets were patrolled by the uniformed and topbooted guards of Dr. Neumann, a 50-year-old veterinary surgeon, who is adopting a role similar to that of Herr Henlein in Czechoslovakia. Germans are going to the poll to-day with instructions to "vote for union with the Reich.” SELF-DETERMINATION The Memel correspondent of the ’ “Daily Telegraph” says that Dr. Neumann. in an interview, fully confirmed the “back to the Reich” intentions of his party. He added that the Memel Germans were so far disciplined, but it was doubtful whether he would be able to control his younger and more hotheaded followers after the election. Asked how a return of Memel to Germany was compatible with Herr Hitler’s declaration that he had no further territorial claims in Europe, he declared that the Memellanders. like the Austrians and Sudetens, could not be deterred from exercising their right of self-determination. During a demonstration last night students shouted anti-Semitic slogans. Thirty arrests were made, and the Government issued a protective decree applicable to Kaunas and the surrounding districts. JEWS PREPARING TO LEAVE The Memel correspondent of the “Daily Mail” says that the Government created a state of emergency yesterday evening by issuing a decree during the elections tantamount to martial law.

The measure was directed against the opposition after the discovery of an alleged plot by the National Democrats to overthrow the President. Many were arrested, including several prominent citizens. The Memel correspondent of the “Daily Herald” says that frequent clashes took place between Nazis and Lithuanian Socialists. Sixteen storm troopers were admitted to hospital and two Lithuanians were shot dead. The Memel correspondent of “The Times” reports that, anticipating a return of the territory to the Reich, the local Jewish community is preparing to leave. Hundreds have already migrated in recent weeks and the remainder are arranging their businesses in readiness to depart at the shortest notice.