NO PLEBISCITES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23169, 15 October 1938, Page 13

NO PLEBISCITES

SUDETEN TERRITORY FRONTIER LINE FIXED BETTER SPIRIT SHOWN TRAGEDY OF REFUGEES By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON, Oct. 13 It is announced definitely that there will he no plebiscites in Sudetenland or elsewhere in Czechoareas. The International Commission reached this decision at Berlin to-night. It is understood the Czech and German representatives accept the present frontier as final, subject only to such minor adjustments as may be necessary for administrative and economic reasons.

Iho news caused satisfaction in official circles ii}/ London. Tho German Foreign Minister Herr von Ribbentrop, according to the Daily Telegraph, had demanded plebiscites in certain areas containing only a small proportion of Germans to which London was increasingly opposed, as it became apparent that the Ambassadors' Conference had concodoch such large areas for immediate occupation that it was indeed anticipated it would be difficult to keep the conference in operation if tho German demand was pressed. Opening of a New Era It is felt at Prague that a new era has opened with tho reception at Berlin of the Foreign Minister M. C. H. Valkovsky, and later his visit to Berchtesgaden and interview with Herr Hitler, combined with tho fact that German troops evacuated several points of the new frontier line on finding that they were largely Czech. Several Czech newspapers now suggest that the policy which kept tho two nations so estranged for twenty years must have been mistaken. Tho plight of refugees caught between two fires, however, is tragic. Refugees from Sudetenland will probably total between 20,000 and 30,000. and Reich German and old Austrian refugees at least 10.000. Tho German frontier is naturally closed to them. Poles Order Evacuation Neither Poland, Hungary nor Rumania is open yet, and Czechoslovakia cannot afford to maintain an army of penniless refugees indefinitely. Meanwhile Polish authorities at Teschen have ordered all Czechs settled there after November 1, 1920, to leave by January 1, 1939. The Mansion House Czech Fund has reached £60,000. Tho Lord Mayor, Sir Harry Twyford, said that he had seen sights in Prague to break the heart of anyone.

"Refugees of all ages and all classes, absolutely destitute and with nothing but the clothes they arrive in are pouring into Prague at the rate of 1500 a day," he added. "Their numbers will increase enormously when inhabitants from the ceded territories exercise their rights of option. Already refugees needing assistance exceed 100,000."

NO DEMOBILISATION GERMANY UNDER ARMS BRITISH FLEET PREPARED LONDON, Oct. 13 In spite of Germany's new anxiety for peace, official circles in London have not yet received any indication of German demobilisation, states the correspondent of the Australian Associated Press. Czech fears of an attempted "putsch" are not taken seriously here, but the British Fleet is being maintained on a war footing. BRITISH LEGION RETAINING SERVICES NO DECISION REACHED British Wireless RUGBY, Oct. 13 . The national chairman of the British Legion, Major Sir Francis Fether-stone-Godloy, had a conversation at the Foreign Office with the assistant UnderSecretary for Foreign Affairs, Sir Alexander Cadogan. It is understood that there was a discussion whether the services of the British Legion would be required in Czechoslovakia, but no decision was reached pending the results of discussions in Berlin and the decision of the International Commission sitting there.