PEACE OR WAR?

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 21 August 1939, Page 7

PEACE OR WAR?

Still in Doubt DEADLOCK ON DANZIG TALKS MUSSOLINI OPPOSED TO FORCE “UNFAVOURABLE REPLY” TO HITLER [United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyrights (Received 2 Ist August, 9.20 a.m.) LONDON, 20th August. Intense interest has resulted from a Reuter report from Berlin that the Italian Ambassador. Signor Attolico, visited Herr Hitler at Berchtesgaden yesterday and delivered an “unfavourable reply” from Signor Mussolini to a vital question raised in the recent talk between Herr Hitler and Count Ciano. There is no indication of what the question is related to, but it is reliably stated that Signor Mussolini is strongly opposed to war and is supporting the Pope’s moves behind the scenes to induce a peaceful settlement, specially of the Danzig dispute. The Italian Press campaign has become significantly toned down, and they arc now adjuring “our old friends, the Poles to negotiate with Germany without delay. “The hour now approaches,” Herr Foerster (leader of the Nazis in Danzig) told a uniformed gathering of police at Danzig. “When the hour comes we will win. The Fuhrer will solve the Danzig Corridor similar to Sudetenland.. Signor Gayda in “Giornale d’ltalia” says: “Poland has only a few more days to reflect. Does she want to bang 'the door to a reasonable solution or be overwhelmed in an adventure which threatens her independence? Her real friends should counsel her to turn from England and France and try at the eleventh hour directly to make contact with Germany. It is evident that the present tension cannot last longer than a few days.” Other newspapers predict that Herr Flitler either at Tannenberg or Nuremberg will issue an ultimatum to Poland to come to terms or fight.

Earlier reports indicated that the situation at the week-end has not favoured optimism, and that Italy increasingly favours a four-Power conference, but Germany and Poland are not interested. The Foreign Secretary, Lord Halifax, to-day returned to London in order to prepare a report for next week’s meeting of Ministers, when the international situation will be reviewed. The Polish Commissioner, M. Chodacki, the Danzig Senate leader, Herr Greiser, and the League Commissioner, Dr. Burckhardt discussed the status of Danzig, on which a dead lock is reported. The inter-Parliamentary Congress. | which is meeting in Norway, has tele, i graphed to Herr Hitler a resolution ! urging that the Powers settle their j disputes peacefully. GERMAN TROOPS IN SLOVAKIA MOVING TOWARDS POLAND’S BACK DOOR IN CONTROL OF COUNTRY AREAS (Received 21st August, 9 a.m.) LONDON, 20th August. To-day the Bratislava wireless station denied announcing that Germany has taken over military pos- j session and attributes the story to oppositionist propaganda. The Slovak Minister to Warsaw declares that an unextended area is garrisoned by the Germans. Other sources hint that there are negotiations for the German command of the Slovak troops. All is quiet in Slovakia. The Prime Minister, Dr Tiso, is spending the weekend in the country. The spokesman in Warsaw to-day said: “We have long known that Slovakia would be a military base for operations against Poland. We have provided for this contingency. Germany’s move is open proof of her intention to encircle Poland.” It was officially stated in Berlin that the German activity in Slovakia is limited to the presence of a military mission in Bratislava and the occupation of the zone agreed upon in March. The sole official comment on the occupation is: “The developments are following the course mapped out when Slovakia arranged and received the German protection.” Officials declined to define the word "course.” The Bratislava correspondent of the British Associated Press yesterday reported that German troops are flung along at least 100 miles of the PolishSiovakian frontier, a far greater distance than that fixed when Germany guaranteed Slovakia's independence by treaty last March.

• delimitation of the military zones that ■ the German forces are to occupy. The treaty implements the German-Slovak . agreement signed after the annexation of Bohemia and Moravia, under which Germany was authorised to build and man the garrisons and forts which 1 extend from Germany’s eastern Siegfried Line into Slovakia os far as the River Warthe. Germany is permitted to instal a military mission in Bratislava to supervise the activities and heavy concentrations of German troops established throughout Slovakia for some ( time. The announcement merely ratifies their presence. PRESSURE ON HUNGARY ; “The Times” diplomatic corresi pondent makes three deductions from | the announcement:— | (1) That Hungrary has lost the last j hope of taking over Slovakia by agree- ' men! with Germany. (2) That Germany is able to have troops on Hungary's northern frontier and exert greater pressure on Budapest. (3) That Germany has automatically strengthened and deepened her south-eastern flank in the even* of war against Poland by fortifications on Slovakia’s northern frontiers.

Tens of thousands of troops have been observed in the vicinity of Zilina. where the townsfolk are preparing to flee from their homes at a moment’s notice.

Other troops are movinj up the mountainous regions in the north-east, which are described strategically as Poland’s back door. The German military staff has assumed complete control of the country areas, although Bratislava in the meantime is ostensibly remaining under Slovak authority. The Slovak military leader. General Csatloa, resigned last week after re-1 fusing a German suggestion that he send two Slovak divisions to the Polish | frontier. The National Council per- ! swaded him to retain his command, : which is now worthless. The Germans last night closed down two Czech and all Jewish newspapers in Slovakia. STRATEGIC POSITION It was felt in London that the broadcast announcement f rom Bratislava' that Germany is taking military possession of Slovakia, as reported by the i British Associated Press is a logical sequel to the signing of the GermanSlovakian treaty. The reference in the announcement to “owing to the existing situation” applies to the rapid deterioration of the German-Polish relations and to Slovakia’s strategic position between Poland’s southern frontier and Hungary’s northern frontier. The text of the agreement is not disclosed, but it is stated td refer to a