CZECH PROBLEM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23040, 18 May 1938, Page 13

CZECH PROBLEM

BRITAIN'S PART DISCUSSIONS IN PRAGUE NO DEFINITE SUGGESTIONS HENLEIN'S VISIT TO LONDON By Telegraph— Press Association—Copyright (Received May 17, 5.5 p.m.) British "Wireless RUGBY, May 10 Questions addressed in the House of Commons to the Prime Minister, on the subject of the representations made by the British Minister in Prague, Mr. Basil Cochrane-New-ton, on the Sudeten German problem, were answered by the UnderSecretary for Foreign Affairs, Mr. R. A. Butler, as Mr. Chamberlain was confined to his room in Downing Street by a slight attack of gout. Mr. Butler said the British Government representative in Prague had conversations with the Czechoslovak President of the Council, Dr. Milan Hodza, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Krofta, about this question. The British Government had not suggested to the Czech Government any particular measures or concessions, but urged the desirability—with which the Czech Government was in full agreement —of doing everything in its power to further an agreed settlement of the problem. "Matters have not yet reached a stage when I can usefully make a further statement," Mr. Butler added. Asked by Mr. Arthur Henderson (Labour —Kingswinford): "Will the Government give no support to any concession which will destroy the effective defence of Czechoslovakia?" Mr. Butler replied: "I have stated that we have not suggested to the Czechoslovakian Government any particular measure of concession." He declined to add to this statement when a Conservative back-bencher asked whether the British Government would resist the claims of the minori-ties-in Czechoslovakia to dictate to the Czech Government the nature of its foreign policy. Mr. Butler also returned no reply to Sir Archibald Sinclair, the Opposition Liberal leader, when the latter asked: "Does the Government realise that in making these representations at Prague it is assuming a heavy moral responsibility?" Mr. Butler, in answer to another question, said the Sudeten leader, Herr Henlein, on his recent visit to London, had not been received by any member of the Government. The report of a meeting between Mr. Malcolm Mac Donald, Dominions Secretary, and Herr Henlein, was without foundation, nor did he visit the Foreign Office. He had met Sir Robert Vansittart, Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, with whom he was already acquainted, on a purely private occasion. FRANCE'S ADVICE THE CZECH MINISTER UTMOST CONCILIATION STOP AT "NATIONAL SUICIDE" (Received May 17, 8.50 p.m.) LONDON. May 17 The French Minister of Foreign Affairs, M. Bonnet, receiving Dr. Stefan Osusky, the Czech Minister to France, declared that France's advice to Czechoslovakia was, to be as concilatory as possible to the Sudeten Germans, but not to make concessions amounting to "national suicide," says the Paris correspondent of the Daily Telegraph. VIEWS OF DOMINIONS HERR HENLEIN QURIOUS EAGER FOR INFORMATION LONDON, May 16 It is learned that Herr Henlein, leader of the Sudeten Germans, when in London conferred with Mr. Malcolm Mac Donald, then Dominions Secretary, says the Australian Associated Press. Herr Henlein was equally eager to know the attitude of the Dominions as well as that of Britain on the Czechoslovakian problem, especially how the Dominions were likely to react to his demand for a reorientation of Czechoslovakia's foreign policy. Herr Henlein regards self-determina-tion as indispensable, which, in its extreme form, means that the Sudeten Germans will vote for. union with Germany. This almost certainly would inspire the Polish and Hungarian minorities to follow suit.

The statement in the above message that Herr Henlein visited Mr. MacDonald has been officially denied. GERMANS ARRESTED PROPAGANDA AMONG CZECHS (Received May 17, 5.5 p.m.) PRAGUE, May 16 Several Germans were arrested to-day in connection with the distribution of thousands of propaganda tracts in Bohemia and Moravia.