SUBMISSION OF LITHUANIA

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14090, 23 March 1939, Page 6

SUBMISSION OF LITHUANIA

DEMANDED BY GERMANY DESPITE THE CESSION OF MEMEL (Received 11.50 a.m.) United Press Assn. —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. WARSAW, March 22. The situation at Kaunas ss stated to be serious. Despite the cession of Memel German pressure on Lithuania continues. A talk between Ribbentrop and Urbsys is stated to have been held Ribbentrop demanding the immediate submission of Lithuania. HITLER TO VISIT MEMEL. (Received 11.14 a.m.) BERLIN. March 22. Hitler left for Swinemunde at 3.25 p.m. where lie will board the battleship Deutschland arriving at Memel at 9 a.m,. on Thursday. It is understood that German troops will not enter Memel before Thursday in order to allow the Lithuanians to withdraw. JEWS LEAVE MEMEL. (Received 11.10 a.m.) MEMEL. March 22 Storm troopers occupied the Harbour, official buildings and the broadcasting stations, the first German plane flew over Memel. Gailius. the Lithuanian Governor of Memel has issued a proclamation urging the population to preserve strict order ami not to disturb the friendly relations with Germany to permit the Lithuanian government to i each decisions calmly. All officials and civil servants are to remain at their posts. Citizens property would be protected However it is stated that practically the entire population of Memel is in the streets and train loads of Jews are leaving before the German occupation begins. Neumann tai d : “To-day will end the 20 years abject humiliation of the Treaty of Versailles now torn up and justice accomplished.” BRITAIN NOT INFORMED. (Received 11.4 a.m.) (Independent Cables.) LONDON. March 22 Official quarter* point out that the signatories of thf 1924 Memel Convention are not guarantors and there was no obligation in the Covenant providing for help in the case of aggression. One clause lays down that the four signatories must he consulted before a change is made in the status of Memel but thus far neither Germany nor Lithuania has informed Britain regarding the measures they are taking. - GERMAN^TACTICS. THREAT TO BOMB KAUNAS. (Received 11.1 a.m.) LONDON, March 22. The Exchange’s Warsaw correspondent revealing the German tactics says that last night’s communique describing the German demands as a direct violation of Ihe Memel statute was withdrawn early this morning. It is explained that the communique iacksd the Government’s approval. Actually Ribbentrop demanded withdrawal as an act hostile to Germany and declared as an alternative that Kaunas would be bombed. Previously Urbsys on 2tsc March declined to sign the document similar to that obtained from Hacha beseeching Cerman protection. GERMAN CRUISERS OFF MEMEL (Received 10.49 a.m. 7 COPENHAGEN. March 22. German cruisers and submarines are off the Memel coast. LITHUANIAN DELEGATION IN BERLIN. (Received 10.40 a.m.) BERLIN March 22 The Lithuanian delegation lia s arrived by air. Lithuania’s only warship the Prezidentas Smetona and a minesweeper which were handed over from Germany at the end of the war have left the Memel harbour. LAND BARRIER RAISED. (Received 10.30 a.m.) TILSIT. March 22 The Memel land frontier barrier is being raised at 7 p.m.