CZECH PLAN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23132, 2 September 1938, Page 9

CZECH PLAN

PACIFYING GERMANS {national groups £ I FORECAST OF OFFER SHARE ADMINISTRATION [canton system later Ly Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON, August 31 \ The Czech President, Dr. Benes, is expected to proclaim on Friday ! a plan urging that the minorities ■problem can be attacked in two [stages, says the Prague correspondent of Reuter's agency. The immediate programme will comprise:— (1) National groups to receive in specified proportions a share in the administration, the Germans getting 30 per cent. (2) Nationals will be employed where possible in Government posts in their own districts except in defence. (3) -Czech police in non-Czech districts will he reduced gradually. (4) Modification of the language law. (5) A loan for public works, part of <vhich will be applicable to Sudeten areas.

I (6) Cultural autonomy will be perI missible i.i each district. | The introduction of the canton sysjtem comprises the second stage of the |i plan. I Viscount Runciman again had a con- ? Terence with Herr Ktindt, Sudeten defputy in the Czech Parliament. I The next 24 hours will reveal what | prospect there js of a renewal of direct • negotiations. The Czech Prime MinisI ter Dr. Hodza; is expected to make an | important report to the Cabinet. I It is suggested that the Sudeten I Germans should hare throe out of 20 1 cantons with their own Diet, sending I members to the central Parliament in I Prague, but there must first bo a solution providing juridical entity and full | equality of status for the Sudeten Ger--1 mans. Regarding this, it is believed | Dr. Benes told Herr Kundt how far 1 the Government was prepared to go.

" PREPARING NO WAR " NAZI OFFICIAL'S SPEECH DESIRE TO KEEP PEACE FRENCH AND GERMAN RESPECT (Received September 1, 8.30 p.m.) BERLIN, Sept. 1 The Reich Commissioner for Austria, Herr Josef Buerckel, addressing the Overseas Germans Congress at Stuttgart, said: "We are preparing nc war, but we want to prevent One. France and Germany have re-established respect, and out of consideration for the fate of their peoples they could conclude an everlasting peace.' ' '

"Neither our mothers nor French mothers bore sons in order to let them be slaughtered for some foreign affair. Better standards of living are a greater blessing than guns and grenades."

EFFORT TO AVERT WAR BRITAIN "IN FIRING LINE" NEED FOR QUICK DECISIONS SYDNEY. Sept. 1 The Marquess of Lothian, leader of the British delegation to the British Commonwealth Relations Conference, said that Britain was trying to remove- the danger of war in Europe, but she was in the firing line.

"This is a time when quick action m *Jst be taken—a time when it is often j>°t possible to await Dominion opinion e ore certain steps are taken," said Lord Lothian.

CHAMBERLAIN'S GESTURE T AKES FISHING RODS NORTH LONDON, August 31 n these moments of tension there t ( j^' e f* less to find some hopeful porem v,' . ence n °t surprising that Mr Pk' 8 gi re n the fact that rod am t ,er lfiin. has taken his fishing 'pretj Scotland, which is interp e . *° ™ean ho would not be prehoVb- '° r ' nc^ll 'B enco in his favourite J if he felt peace was in imniinnt peril. IT ALIAN FORTIFICATIONS FRENCH FRONTIER m /' NICE, August 31 t° b e Italians are reported theFr T>' in S the frontier opposite Maritime? VUlage ° f Is ° la ' in thc Alpes / that 8f!n Sr p n ' s t a ted earlier this week or( Wed tr> u re ' lcll farmers had been cuintr t tV , , nrf>r their land, which. t ' lp treatv e c boundary drawn up under of' t U Ot u ]8 °' uas 011 the Italian Mred fr,.. , ol "der. The land was ref W Dr '' . cle ] onc e purposes and Italy ' set tlers. Se to ' compensate the