TALKS IN PRAGUE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23109, 6 August 1938, Page 15

TALKS IN PRAGUE

LEADERS 0E PARTIES

LORD RUNCI MAN'S MISSION POWERS' CLOSE INTEREST CHANCES OF AGREEMENT By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received August 5, 11.50 p.m.) LONDON, August 5 Viscount Runciman, the British diplomat who is acting as mediator in the dispute between the Czech Government and the Sudeten Germans, called on Dr. Hodza, the Czech Prime Minister, yesterday. Lord Runciman spoilt the tljiy in consultations with Dr. Hodza and tlio President, Dr. Bonos, and in the evening saw a delegation of Sudeten Germans, with which ho conferred for 90 minutes. The delegation, which was not accompanied by Ilerr Henlein, and which included Herr William Sebekowsky, the Sudeten propagandist, arranged to present memoranda. German Opinion Gorman diplomatic opinion attributes greater significance to the investigatory than to the mediatory aspect of Lord Bunciman's task, and suggests that his findings might provide a basis for an international conference to discuss the securing of the Sudeten Germans' concessions, says the Berlin correspondent of the Times. In any case, the reports on the distribution or omissions of responsibilities as between the Sudetens and the Czechs will be regarded as valuable if Germany is forced to procoed to a solution not internationally sanctioned.

Tho Vatican newspaper Osservatore Romano considers Lord Runciman's mission, even if it fails, will show in the clearest fashion upon which side the responsibility for failure rests, says the Times' Rome correspondent. As everyone must think well before accepting such a catastrophic responsibility, the chances are the parties will end by reaching an agreement. Britain's Interest It is now generally recognised, says the diplomatic correspondent of the Manchester Guardian, that Lord Runoiman's mission has effectively demonstrated Britain's interest in preserving Czochoslovakian independence. The Czechs aro not expected to make concessions threatening their existence, and if Germany presses for such concessions she will 110 longer bo regarded as seeking the betterment of the Sudeten Germans, but as resolved to reduce Czechoslovakia to vassalage, and this neither the Czechs nor the Western Powers would tolerate. Germany protested against the "notoriously deliberate flight of two Czech aeroplanes" over the German fortified town of Glatz on Wednesday. The Czech Foreign Minister, Dr. Krofta, said he regretted the incident and declared that the pilots had been punished.

FRANTIC PACE GERMAN ARMAMENT ACUTE LABOUR SHORTAGE DISPLAY OF MILITARY POWER (Received August G, 12.30 a.m.) LONDON, August 5 In contrast with Germany's claim for room for expansion as her territory is insufficient to support her population is an influx of 120,000 farm hands from abroad. The Manchester Guardian's Berlin correspondent points out that the pace of rearmament has been so frantically speeded up that industry generally is suffering from acute shortage of labour. Several hundred thousand men have been withdrawn from civil employment by the conscription and labour service measures, and industry is obliged more and more to fall back upon women's labour.

The farmers have been ordered to get in the harvest by August 15 at the latest, presumably because Germany wants to exercise the utmost influence upon the negotiations in Prague by the greatest possible display of military power. EQUALITY OF RIGHTS RUMANIAN DECISION MINORITIES IN COUNTRY BUCHAREST, August 4 The Rumanian Government has granted important concessions to minorities, declaring that tliey will enjoy tho same rights and security as the rest of tho population. Tho Civil Service is to ho open to all \vlio will have tho right to use their Own language, churches, schools and newspapers.