DEFIES ARREST

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

DEFIES ARREST

SUDETENS' LEADER BROADCAST ATTACK CZECHS' OPPRESSION "BACK TO THE REICH" TREASON SUGGESTED By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received September J<>, ■">.•"> ji.tm. LONDON, Sept. 10 j Reports from 'several sources in j Prague, sonic of which arc described j as official, state that following upon a proclamation broadcast by the Sudeten German leader, Herr Henlein, at Egor, the Czech Government ordered that proceedings should be instituted against him and a warrant issued for his arrest. It was stated at first that Herr Henlein, accompanied by Herr Franck, had crossed the border into Germany, but a later message from the Prague correspondent of the Daily Mail says Herr Henlein is still at Asch, near the frontier, and has made it known that he will resist arrest. Herr Henlein's broadcast coincided with Chamberlain's arrival at Munich, and for its duration all radio programmes in Germany were interrupted. Herr Henlein said: — "We want to live as free Germans. We want peace to work in our home. Wo want to go back to the Reich. "Realising my responsibility, I declare before the world that Czech oppression lias reached its zenith with the use of machine-guns and tanks, showing the impossibility of living with the Czechs. "Forced into Czech State" "Twenty years of terror, plus a heavy blood sacrifice in the last few ; days, compel me to declare, firstly, that we were forced into the Czech State against our wills and regardless of the right of self-determination; secondly, that without renouncing our right we attempted, under heavy sacrifices, to secure an existence; thirdly, the Czech people's efforts to reach an [ honest and just solution have failed i because of their uncompromising will to ! destruction'."' i The Sudeten Germans allege that the | Czechs are "forcing German-born sol--1 diers to fire on their own countrymen, i A large number of i-uch reservists de- | fied the calling up notice, which was ! designed to denude Sudeten areas of i able-bodied men. This is unparalleled brutality." Alleged Attack j The Sudetens also allege that Czech i soldiers and police at Eger yesterday, ! without warning, attacked the SudeI tens' swimming pool, using machiue- : guns, tanks and armoured cars and opened fire before storming the pool, j The British United Press corresponi dent at Prague reported at 1.15 a.m. to-day that it was officially announced i that the Czech Government had decided to put a question to a commission of ! legal experts as to whether Herr Henlein's proclamation constituted high ' treason. Renter's Agency, however, I learned from a Czech official source in | London this morning that no warrant had been issued for Herr Henlein's j arrest. j Another report said it was officially announced that the ( zechs were taking j action against the Henlein proclamation. The form of the action "was not I announced, but the matter had been I "placed in the hands of competent 1 State authorities." Reactions in "Germany Herr Henlein's "home to the Reich" j proclamation is regarded in Berlin as I strengthening Here Hitler s hand, j Nazis say that even a plebiscite is now j out of date. i The Times Berlin representative j similarly points out that Germans see j only one solution since Herr Henlein's I proclamation, namely, that the Sudej tens must return to the Reich. Anti- | Czech feeling has hardened in the past 124 hours owing to the killing of | Germans within 150 miles of Berlin. SUDETEN MANIFESTO INFLAMMATORY PHRASERS i ALLEGED CZECH ATROCITIES LONDON, Sept. 16 A manifesto was issued yesterday by ! the Sudeten German leaders at. A sch, i stating: "Czech democracy has finally I lot fall its hypocritical mask. DefenceI less women and children and hundreds { of dead seriously accuse it. i "Under the guise of humanitarian ! phrases it plunders and murders in a | way only comparable to Bolshevist 1 atrocities in Spain. The Sudeten Gori mans tell the entire world that they j have sought a peaceful solution to the i last minute. The Czechs have rejected j all Herr Henlein's demands. "In view of these conditions it is I self-evident that every Sudeten Ger- | man will defend, with every means, j bis life and his family's life against I murdering and plundering hordes." j HUNGARIAN MINORITY | SELF-DETERMINATION PLEA I ' (Received September Hi, 5.15 p.m.) BUDAPEST, Sept. 15 The Hungarian Treaty Revision League telegraphed to Mr. Chamberlain at Berchtesgaden urging the right of self-determination for Hungarians living in Czech territory. LEAVE CANCELLED AUSTRALIAN NAVY CANBERRA, Sept. 16 All leave for officers and men of tlio Australian Navy has been cancelled. Although official circles declined yesterday to mako any comment, it was learned that leave had not been cancelled so far as the New Zealand ; Division of tho Royal Navy was concerned. It was suggested that the cancellation of leave in Australia was due to causes other than the situation in Europe.