PREMIER'S VISIT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23145, 17 September 1938, Page 15

PREMIER'S VISIT

THE FUEHRER EMPHATIC - \ STAND BY SUDETENS GERMANS' HIGH OPTIMISM SECOND MEETING PLANNED By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received September 10, 0.10 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. in After the conference between the British Prime Minister, Mr. Chamberlain, and Herr Hitler at the latter's home at Berchtesgadqn, Obersalzburg, which ended at 8.1 5 last night, the following official announcement was made:— "The Fuehrer conferred with Mr. Chamberlain at Obersalzburg. An extensive and open exchange of opinion on the present situation took place. Mr. Chamberlain will return to England tomorrow in order to confer with the British Cabinet. A new conference will be held in a few days." Mr. Chamberlain told journalists: "I had a very friendly talk with Herr Hitler. We will meet again some time later." The British Ambassador, Sir Nevile Henderson, added that the next conference will probably not be at Berchtesgaden. When Mr. Chamberlain returned to his hotel in Berchtesgaden after his talk with Herr Hitler, he looked very tired and seemed to greet the crowd in a preoccupied manner. Heretired immediately to his apartments. Optimism has given way to pessimism, but the official report made later has slightly increased hope. , Return to London Mr. Chamberlain departed this morning in steady rain for Munich, where he will have lunch, afterward leaving for London. It is now suggested he will again meet Herr Hitler at Godesberg, on the Rhine between Cologne and Coblenz. Mr. G. Ward Price, the special correspondent of the Daily Mail, says in a despatch from Berchtesgaden: "I am able reliably to state that Herr Hitler made a full and emphatic statement on the lines of his Nuremberg speech, and communicated to Mr. /Chamberlain some new facts. He impressed upon Mr. Chamberlain the necessity for a radical solution as early as possible, and indicated the lines of a possible settlement. Threat to Czechs "In the meantime," the correspondent adds, "I understand the Reich has sent a strong Note to Prague threatening to arrest a number of Czechs in Germany and hold them as hostages against incidents. Mr. Ward Price says the talks were no way a case' of failure by either side to discern the probability of finding common ground for agreed future action. On the contrary, the Germans are entirely satisfied with the conversations. It 'is understood Herr Hitler reaffirmed his determination to stand by the Sudeten Germans and that Mr. Chamberlain stressed Britain's desire for an equitable and peaceful settlement. The correspondent of the News Chronicle at Berchtest; gaden says the optimism of Germain officials is immense. The focal point of the crisis has now switched from Berchtesgaden to London. Mr. Chamberlain will arrive by air -this afternoon, and will meet members of the Cabinet immediately. There is'very wide speculation in all quarters as to the basis of his discussions with Herr Hitler and the text of his report for the Cabinet. The fact that Viscount Runciman has been recalled to London is taken as an indication of the formulation of a plan to settle the dispute in the light of the Berchtesgaden discussions.