TENSION CEASES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23514, 31 May 1938, Page 11

TENSION CEASES

THE CZECH SITUATION REASSURING STATEMENT PART PLAYED BY BRITAIN / PRAGUE’S PLAN FOR SETTLEMENT (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) * LONDON, May 29. (Received May 30, at 5.5 p.m.) The Prague correspondent of the British United Press says that in an exclusive interview, the Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs (Dr Krofta) expressed the opinion that Britain’s initiative will ensure peace in Central Europe. Tension has already ceased, and things are definitely better. The recent protests about the aeroplane incidents are not serious, Dr Krofta said, and have not constituted any form of ultimatum, but were made in a friendly spirit. The Government was as anxious as was the leader of the Sudeten Germans, Herr Henlein, for good relations with Germany. The French press is most satisfied with the calm in Czechoslovakia and feature a report that the Czech Minister (Mr Osusky) has given the French Minister of Fbreign Affairs (M. Bonnet) a complete outline of Prague’s plan for a settlement of the problem. He declared that the Czech Government will go as far as possible without abandoning to the minorities any control over foreign and military affairs.

It is believed that the three main points are:—

To be offered the use of their own language in all fields as if in their own State.

. To be given financial control of the school system in their districts where Germans predominate. To be given control of the municipal councils and an exact proportion of the civil service posts.

The Prague correspondent of The Times states that the Czech Prime Minister (Dr Hodza) and members of the Henlein Party, after a discussion on the “ most actual questions,” announced that they had reached an understanding for the continuance of the negotiations on which, for the first time, both sides reported progress. VIOLATION OF FRONTIER CZECH 'PROTEST TO GERMANY VIOLENT SPEECH BY’DR GOEBBELS LONDON, May 29. (Received May 30, at 5.5 p.m.) The Berlin correspondent of the News Chronicle says that the Czech Minister at Berlin (Dr V. Mastny) entered a serious protest at the German Foreign Office against German military planes violating the frontier.

The Berlin correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says the resentment at England and France aroused in radical Nazi circles was illustrated in a violent speech in which the Minister of Propaganda (Dr P. J. Goebbels), after a reference to the attitude of certain Powers in the present crisis, said: “What are we to say about the Czechs’ continued aerial violation of the frontier? There are 75,000,000 Germans and 13,000,000 Czechoslovakians, but they act as though the position were reversed. England and France blame Germany for the troop movements, but what about Czech troop movements? Peacemakers ought to calling Prague to order instead of encouraging the Czechs’ obstinacy.” CZECH POLLS I GERMAN MAJORITY IN SUDETEN AREA AN ISOLATED INCIDENT LONDON. May 30. (Received May 30, at 11.30 p.m.) Preliminary election returns indicate that 80 per cent, of the German votes were cast for the Henlein Party in Gablonz, the largest Sudeten German community. The country returned 34 members of the Henlein Party from 42 seats. The Prague correspondent of The Times says the second day of the elections was without incident except at Tisa, where, before polling, Sudeten Germans clashed with German Social Democrats, resulting in a scuffle. A Sudeten German was slightly wounded by a revolver bullet.