HEAVY BLOW TO CZECHS

Southland Times, Issue 23634, 8 October 1938, Page 7

HEAVY BLOW TO CZECHS

EXTENT OF NAZI OCCUPATION Decisions Of Berlin Commission INDIGNATION AGAINST LONDON AND PARIS THOUSANDS FACED WITH GERMAN RULE (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received October 7, 10.40 p.m.) LONDON, October 7. The details of the fifth zone of German occupation provided the heaviest and most unexpected shock of the crisis to the Czech people, says the Prague correspondent of The Times. The zone will cut deeply within a few miles of the country’s three main industrial towns, exceeding in area the other four zones combined. It brings the German frontier within three miles of Pilsen, eight miles of Brno and four miles of Mah-risch-Ostrau. The Czech Government and public are aghast, declaring that even the Godesberg demands have been exceeded and that almost every plebiscite area is included in the fifth zone.

An official Czech broadcast said the new boundaries, were submitted to the Czechs in the form of an ultimatum, and protests were not heeded.

The Prague correspondent of The Daily Telegraph says Germany was given carte blanche to annex large numbers of almost purely Czech districts.

The new ’’me is far worse than that which Mr Chamberlain declared unacceptable, and has resulted in a furious outburst of indignation against Britain and France. The main railway lines from Prague to Slovakia, Moravia, Hungary and Poland will traverse German territory, and the main roads are cut.

The publi- is stunned by what it regards as the harshness of the boundaries of the fifth zone, says the Prague correspondent of Reuters. It appears that the Austrian census of 1910 was accepted as a basis for establishing areas more than 50 per cent German. Thus towns like Policka, where now there is not even one per cent, of the population German, must be handed over.

It is suggested that the Germans insisted on cession of this area because it contains a large munitions factory. It is feared that 800,000 Czechs will, pass under German'rule or be given the option of leaving their homes within six months. The Czech Minister at Berlin (M. Ivan Mastny) told the commission that the Czechs acknowledged the fifth zone frontiers with profound regret but would undertake to carry out measures for implementing the decision. Hie Berlin correspondent of The Times says that the resignation of Dr Eduard Benes as President of Czechoslovakia has greatly hastened the work of the international commission. It is understood that the limits of German occupation at October 10 will roughly determine the future German and Czech frontiers.

CZECHS DELIVERED TO NAZI YOKE HITLER GAINS MORE THAN MUNICH AGREEMENT (Received October 8, 1.5 a.m.) LONDON, October 7. , The Czech delegation at Geneva states that the international commission has granted to Germany all the territory comprised in Herr Hitler’s Godesberg demands by using the pre-war census figures of the old Austro-Hungarian Empire as a basis for its population calculations in the fifth zone. The Germans will demand a plebiscite in regions in which Germans form only 2 to 7 per cent, of the population; thus in some districts 100,000 Germans will rule 1,000,000 Czechs. Czechoslovakia’s waistline has been squeezed to only 40 miles in width. Railways and roads are bisected by German islands. The Munich agreement is now converted into the Godesberg demands, in the opinion of the delegates. A message from Berlin says an economic mission is going to Prague to discuss close co-operation, possibly even a German and Czech customs union. The French Press reaction to the international commission’s decision ranges from surprise to deep indignation. All agree that Germany receives more than the-Munich agreement. Le Petit Parisien says: “Germany obtains complete economic and industrial control of Czechoslovakia. Germany and Poland are co-operating in the wicked work of dismemberment. Doubtless Poland is compensating herself for the future loss of the Corridor to Germany.” Le Populaire says: “The commission has subjected nearly 1,000,000 Czechs to the German yoke. Presumably this is merely the beginning of a betrayal of the Munich agreement.” reluctant”vote by CONSERVATIVES PROBABLE CHANGES IN CABINET LONDON, October 7. Commenting on the House of Commons vote, The Daily Telegraph points out that many Conservatives voted reluctantly for the Government in spite of grave misgivings. When the House meets on November 1 there will be a searching inquiry which will result in changes -in party alignments and the Ministerial personnel, it says.

SLOVAKS OBTAIN HOME RULE CZECHOSLOVAKIA NOW FEDERAL STATE GOOD RELATIONS WITH PRAGUE ASSURED (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received October 7, 8.5 p.m.) PRAGUE, October 7. ; Internal political cross-currents in Czechoslovakia are likely to flow less restlessly as a result of an agreement reached at Zelina to form an autonomous Slovak Government, with Dr Joseph Tisot as Prime Minister. Dr Tisot, who is a member of the national Chamber of Deputies, is a priest, and has for many years been vice-chairman of the Slovak Peoples Party. His simultaneous appointment to Prague as Minister for Slovakia is regarded as ending the 20-year-old feud between the Czechs and the Slovaks and paving the way to a workable federation. The meeting at Zelina was representative of all Slovak parties. . It agreed to work to obtain the adoption of an autonomy law before October 28, and agreed that foreign affairs, defence and national finance should be left to the central Government, but demanded that all five Slovak Ministers should sit in the Prague Cabinet Thus Czechoslovakia will be a federal State with two equal partners, The acceptance of this jplan by the Czech Government is certain. x The Slovak Government includes Dr Sokol and M. Fidor, who were formerly violent autonomists and Agrarian National representatives. Slovakia will have its own Diet.

GERMANY COOL TO HUNGARY POLAND’S DEMAND FOR COMMON FRONTIER (Received October 7, 6.30 pan.) LONDON, October 6. The Australian Associated Press understands that Germany is showing marked disinterestedness in the Hungarian request for support to her minority claim. It is learned that Britain communicated with Warsaw, pointing out her disapproval of more demands being made on Czechoslovakia beyond those defined on an ethnological basis. The Polish Foreign Minister (Colonel Josef Beck) had a long conference with Count Cskay, of the Hungarian Foreign Office. It is understood that as a result Poland will support Hungary’s claim to 'Ruthenia, which will give Poland and Hungary a common frontier. It was also agreed that Poland and Hungary should respect the Slovaks’ desires, subject to the restoration to Hungary of the southern strip of Slovakia, in which there is a Hungarian minority numbering 10.000. Poland and Hungary will then be willing to guarantee the new Czech frontier. The Czech negotiations with Hungary have been postponed till Saturday as a result of the changes in the Czech Government. Czechoslovakia replied to the Hungarian Note, which demanded an immediate symbolic occupation .and cession of territory, with a request to exercise patience. Last evening Hungarian irregulars crossed the frontier at Felednice and Rimavska, attacking the guards, and also invaded Miskoloz and other Slovak towns. They penetrated several kilometres and were halted by troops. The Hungarian military authorities ordered them to retire. Several were killed and wounded on both sides. ''

POSSIBILITY OF NO PLEBISCITES DEMONSTRATION POLL IN SUDETENLAND (Received October 7, 7.50 p.m.) LONDON, October 7. The Berlin correspondent of The Daily Mail says that well-informed Nazis declare that the fifth zone of occupation in Czechoslovakia as defined by the international commission, includes all districts bordering the Reich. Therefore, it is argued, no plebiscites will be held in other areas unless the Czechs require them, which is considered unlikely. According to the Berlin correspondent of the British United Press it is reliably indicated that a plebiscite will be held in Sudeteiiland similar to that held in Austria, for demonstration purposes. < Herr Hitler inspected Zone 2. He was enthusiastically welcomed at Rumberg and other towns. The Ambassadors’ Commission overcame the obstacle of delimitation and is expected to reach complete agreement shortly. It has been provisionally arranged for the Czechs to remove all movable weapons from Sudetenland in exchange for political prisoners. In the House of Lords Earl Stanhope, winding up the debate for the Government, revealed that the time-table for the Sudeten areas was devised by the Foreign Secretary (Viscount Halifax). FRENCH DEMOBILIZATION i PARIS, October 6. Demobilization will be completed by October 11. A message from Prague states that two classes are being demobilized immediately and the others progressively. CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE RESOLUTION LONDON, October 6. The Association of British Chambers of Commerce passed a resolution recognizing that Mr Neville Chamberlain’s action had prevented a European war.