PEACE TALKS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23156, 30 September 1938, Page 12

PEACE TALKS

DETAILS OUTLINED SUDETEN QUESTION COMPLETE EXAMINATION VISITS TO GERMANY By Telegraph—.Press Association —Copyright British Wireless RUGBY, Sept. - JH The Prime Minister, in his speech in the House of Commons, gave a recital of the events in connection with the Sudeten question from July onward, leading up to the situation to-day, which Mr. Chamberlain described as one with no parallel since 1911. Referring to the negotiations toward the end of August, Mr. Chamberlain said events then occurred which increased the seriousness of the situation. As a result, the British Ambassador, Sir Xevile Henderson, was recalled to London for consultation, and a meeting of .Ministers was held on August 13. .Next day, Sir Nevile returned to Berlin, and gave the State Secretary at the German Foreign Office a strong personal warning regarding the probable attitude of the British Government —already defined, as Mr. Chamberlain hail reminded the Mouse in his speech of March 24—in the event of German aggression against Czechoslovakia, particularly if Franco were compelled to intervene. Two days later Sir Novile repeated his warning to the German Foreign Minister. First Berchtesgaden Meeting Mr. Chamberlain explained that the British Government desired to impress the seriousness of the situation upon the Germau Government without the risk of further aggravation of the situation by any formal representations which might have been interpreted by the German Government as a public rebuff, as had been the case in regard to representations made on May 21. At the same time, with the Nuremberg Conference in prospect, the British Minister at Prague saw the President of Czechoslovakia and impressed on him the vital necessity for further concessions. Dealing with Herr Hitler's Nurem- | berg speech, and the immediate deteri- ! oration of the situation which followed I it, Mr. Chamberlain came in turn to ] the first meeting with Herr Hitler at Berchtesgaden. "At tins conversation, which lasted three hours, 1 very soon became aware that the situation was much more acute and urgent than 1 had realised," said the Prime Minister. "In courteous but perfectly definite terms, Herr Hitler j made it plain that he had made up his | mind that the Sudeten Germans must | ! have the right of self-determination and j of returning, if tlie.v wished, to the j Reich. Fuehrer Prepared to ft>sk War 'lt they could not achieve this by ; | their own efforts, Herr Hitler said, ; Germany would assist them, and he i declared categorically that rather than wait he would be prepared to risk a world war. ■ "So strongly did 1 get the impression that the Chancellor was contemplating the immediate invasion of Czechoslovakia that I asked him why he had allowed me to travel all .that way, since it was evidently wasting my time," continued Mr. Chamberlain. "Ho said that if 1 could give him there and then an assurance that the British Govern- ! incut accepted the principle of selfdetermination he would be quite ready i to discus*, ways and means of carrying ! it out ; 'I was i)t course. ill no position to give such an assurance there and then, but I undertook to return at once to consult my colleagues if fcLerr Hitler would refrain from active hostilities until 1 had had time to obtain their reply. "That assurance Herr Hitler gave, provided, he said, that nothing happened in Czechoslovakia of such a nature as to force his hands, and that assurance has remained binding ever since. Visit Prevents an Invasion "I have no doubt now, looking back, , that my, visit alone prevented invasion, I for which everything had been prepared, and it is clear to me that, with the German troops in the positions they j then occupied, nothing that anybody could do would prevent that invasion unless the right of self-determination was granted, and that quickly, to the Sudeten Germans. That was the sole hope of a peaceful solution." Mr. Chamberlain then described his return to London to consult the Cabinet, which received the views of Viscount Runeiman, the discussions with the French Ministers and the advice which the French and British Governments tendered at Prague, and which was accepted unconditionally on September 21. Mr. Chamberlain added that Mr. B. C'. Newton, British Minister at Prague, was instructed to inform Czechoslovakia the next day that Britain was profoundly conscious of the immense sacrifice which Czechoslovakia had agreed to, and the immense public spirit they had shown.