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New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23084, 8 July 1938, Page 11

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GERMAN DESIGNS SEIZURE OF STATE TINY PRINCIPALITY TROOPS NEAR BORDER NEIGHBOURS ANXIOUS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON, July 0 France and Switzerland are very perturbed over rumours that Germany is preparing to occupy Liechtenstein. The newspaper Figaro reports that Switzerland is rushing troops to the Liechtenstein frontier. The National Zeitung of Basle says German troop movements have been noticed near the frontier. Immediately troops enter tho country, Liechtenstein will surrender, enabling the State to be absorbed as was the case with Austria.

The official news agency in Berlin says that reports of the intended occupation of Liechtenstein have been circulated with the evident intention of disturbing the calm political atmosphere and of reviving nervousness. Liechtenstein is a principality, an independent State, between Switzerland and Austria, about 20 miles from Lake Constance. It has no taxation or military service and has an area of 65 square miles and a population of 11,000, of German origin. It is in the Swiss Customs Union, and posts and telegraphs are administered by Switzerland.

RHINE TERRITORY DECISION TO SEIZE NAZIS' ANNOUNCEMENT FRANCE OWNS THE TITLE PARIS, Jnly 6 Germany has announced that she is taking over 1000 acres at Rhinau, on the right bank of the Rhine, to which French title was confirmed at the Versailles Conference, and also under special agreement in 1925. The Mayor of Rhinau refused to attend a meeting called by the German Army representative.

TROUBLE AT MEMEL

GERMAN DEMONSTRATIONS KILLING OF LITHUANIAN (Received July 7, 6.5 p.m.) British Wireless RUGBY, July 6 The Foreign "Under-Secretary, Mr. R. A. Butler, stated in the House of Commons that the British Charge d'Affaires at Kaunas, Lithuania, Mr. C. W. Orde, who has just returned from a visit to Memel, reported that somewhat serious rioting occurred at the port on June 20 and June 2S, when demonstrators by German residents on the arrival of German steamers, were followed by clashes between them and Lithuanians, resulting on the latter occasion, in the death of one Lithuanian and the wounding of others by the autonomous police. Mr. Orde was satisfied, said Air. Butler, that both the Lithuanian and the autonomous authorities were alive to the necessity for preventing a recurTenco of such incidents, and the position would now return to normal.