NAZI DEFENCE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19900, 30 March 1939, Page 7

NAZI DEFENCE

CZECH PROTECTORATE RESPONSE TO REQUEST |eXPLANATION TO AMERICA I ! DEBT OBLIGATIONS j ; (K)«c. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. March 29. 2.30 p.m.) j WASHINGTON, March 28. I Dr. Sans Thomsen, the German ; Charge d’Affaircs, in an interview to- ■ day, said that Germany accepted in p principle the obligation for the Au> jj trian and Czecii debts to the United States. "Because we have not a favourable j trade balance, we are unable to make payments on Austrian debts,” be added. “My proposals for the discussion of the subject with your Government mot with no response. The matter will be adjusted in time.” He added that 25 per cent of the Czechosiavak gold would be turned over to the new Slovak Government for the support of its independent currency. This was considered to be the Slovak share of the Republic’s monetary reserve. Asked about the Czech share, he replied: “The assets as well as the liabilities of the Prague Government naturally will be taken over by the Reich. Moreover, after Slovakia’s secession the Munich pact ceased to have binding, legal validity.” He commented that Germany’s assumption of the protectorate was a strictly legal proceeding and was formally a request to Herr Hitler by the Czechoslovakian President on a voluntary visit to Berlin. “It is not throwing down the gage of battle to the democracies,” he said. “If war results it will be France and Britain who will have to attack Germany, directly or through their allies.”