CZECH ECONOMIC PROSPECTS

Southland Times, Issue 23650, 27 October 1938, Page 5

CZECH ECONOMIC PROSPECTS

MAY RELY ON NAZI GRAIN DEMAND

PERSECUTION OF JEWS IN SUDETENLAND (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received October 26, 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, October 26. Summing up Czechoslovakia’s position in the light of developments after the crisis, the Prague correspondent of The Daily Telegraph states that to speak of economic reconstruction is about as reasonable as an offer of 250 visas can be a practical help in settling the question of the 100,000 homeless refugees. The question is not even settled whether Czechoslovakia should rebuild her shattered industries or relapse into a purely peasant’State, depending, for her existence on supplying grain to Germany. One thing is certain: that the course taken will be one that Germany desires.

' Britain’s and France’s only possibility 'of retaining a fraction of their former influence is, Czechoslovakia’s dire need of loans, which Germany is unable to supply, and the only hope of arresting the drift to fascist totalitarianism and anti-Semitism.

The correspondent says that the persecution of Jews and Czech minorities in the German-occupied areas is increasing The majority of the Jewish and Czech shops are closed. Many Czech and German democrats and priests have been ill-treated. An archiepiscopal notary, Father Kopecky, was beaten up and Jewish shops were plundered in Sloukia.

Hundreds of Jews have been thrown into No Man’s Land and are dying of cold and hunger. The Times says the refugees from Sudetenland include 3000 Social Democrats, whose return will mean death or ill-treatment. Their hope lies in admittance to the British Empire. All are anti-fascist and are trained industrialists. There are no Jews and probably 150 communists. The Czech relief fund has reached £225,000. Sir Ronald Macleay will go to Czechoslovakia tomorrow to administer the fund. The British observers who went to Czechoslovakia to supervise the transfer of territory to Germany have returned to Britain. The transfers were effected in a friendly spirit and with the absence of disturbance because of the conciliation shown by both sides. GERMAN~ENVOY TO VISIT ROME CLAIMS ON CZECHS TO BE DISCUSSED (Received October 26, 10.40 p.m.) LONDON, October 26. The German Foreign Minister (Herr Joachim von Ribbentrop) is going to Rome today to discuss Polish, Czechoslovakian and Hungarian questions. The Budapest correspondent of The Times reports that the Prime Minister of Hungary (Dr Bela Imredyj at a Press reception said: “We are still hoping for a peaceful solution, but if our peaceful overtures are not accepted we are prepared to realize our just claims by all means at our disposal, even forceful ones if necessary.” The Czech Cabinet has drafted a reply to Hungary. The War Ministry announces that two Hungarian aeroplanes shot down a Czech observation aeroplane over the Slovak village of Boda. The pilot was wounded and the aeroplane crashed in flames eight miles within the Czecho-Hungarian frontier. i SPECULATION ABOUT NAZI MOVE DIFFERENCE IN GERMAN AND ITALIAN VIEWS . (Received October 27, 12.30 am.) LONDON, October 26. Herr van Ribbentrop’s visit to Rome is arousing speculation. The. news of his departure surprised even those usually best informed on foreign moves, says the Berlin correspondent of The Times.

It is generally believed that he has gone to discuss the problem of the Hungarian minority in Czechosloslovakia, especially the proposal for a common Polish-Hungarian frontier, which is supported by Italy but is not favoured by Germany.