AN ULTIMATUM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23143, 15 September 1938, Page 13

AN ULTIMATUM

SUDETEN PARTY DRASTIC DEMANDS FIKST ONES WITHDRAWN PLEBISCITE IMPERATIVE SINISTER ALTERNATIVE (Received September 14, 5.5 p.m.) Sept. 14 Representatives of Herr Henlein, leader of the Sudeten Germans, and Herr Franck, Sudeten deputy, says a message from Prague, addressed the following demand to Dr. Hodza, Czech Prime Minister : "It is established that a large number of Sudetens have been killed and wounded organisations or Czech frontiersmen. Therefore, the Sudetens are not able to negotiate freely and unrestrictedly with the Government, except on the following terms : "(1) The martial law proclamation to be withdrawn immediately.

"(2) State police to be Withdrawn from districts in which there is a majority of German population and where the municipal authorities are to be responsible for maintaining order. Six Hours' Time Limit Fixed "(3) Gendarmerie and other special Government services must be reduced to normal numbers and confined to normal duties. "(4) All military formations to bo confined to barracks and kept removed from civilian population." The statement added that if the demands were not accepted within six hours, the leadprs would decline responsibility for future developments. Insistence on a Plebiscite

The Sudetens' announcement also stated that Herr Henlein's eight points no longer provided a basis for negotiations. The situation had gone too far. The Sudetens would bo satisfied with nothing less than a plebiscite. It is officially announced that the Czechs have decided to ignore the Sudetens' ultimatum, says the British United Press. A spokesman declared that it was impossible for the Government to consider an ultimatum from a political party. The correspondent also reports that after a meeting of the Czech Cabinet, Dr. Hodza replied to the ultimatum. It is understood that tho Cabinet has not closed the door to negotiations. Refusal to Negotiate Further The Czechs are keeping in close touch vith France and Britain, says the Prague correspondent of the Exchange Telegraph Company. The Czech Minister in London, Mr. Masaryt, informed Reuter's that Herr Henlein had notified Dr. Hodza a t 12.15 a.m. that further negotiations were impossible. The Minister added that Herr Henfeiu also told Dr. Hodza he had relieved the Sudeten negotiators of their duties.

A Czech spokesman at Prague said ®niergency measures would bo maintained until calm was restored. He said there was no question of acceptance or of the ultimatum, which the Government could not consider.

The Government was anxious to continue negotiations. Lending members of tho Army were reporting to Dr. Benes throughout the light.

NO SPECIAL ACTION

DECISION

CANBERRA. Ss>t. 14 After the Federal Cabinet had disposed the latest phases of tho Euro|j° a n situation the Prime Minister, Mr. 'felt k* VOns ' s:i ' ( l that the Ministers k s*ere tras nb necessity for any J* ol *! action in Australia.