CZECHS SEEK AMITY WITH GERMANY

Southland Times, Issue 23692, 15 December 1938, Page 5

CZECHS SEEK AMITY WITH GERMANY

GOVERNMENT TO RULE BY DECREE (Received Decwiber 14, 7.40 p.m.) PRAGUE, December 14. The new Czech Prime Minister (Dr Beran) in a statement on foreign policy said the foremost task would be the establishment of friendship with Germany. He hoped Herr Hitler would understand the mind of the Czech people after the recent storms. “We will adjust ourselves to what is absolutely inevitable without renouncing our inalienable rights or our national interests,” he said. “We shall also seek relations with Britain, France, the United States, Poland and Hungary. “Events in Europe do not permit of optimism, but because of the urgency of internal reconstructions Czechoslovakia has no desire to re-enter the international sphere.” A Bill has been introduced enabling the Government to rule by decree for two years, with power to alter the Constitution. The decrees issued during the crisis limiting freedom of the Press, meetings and propaganda have been extended for three months. POLES MAY RELINQUISH TESCHEN (Received December 15, 12.45 a.m.) PRAGUE, December 14. Polish officials have left the recentlyoccupied Teschen area after the withdrawal of the Polish troops who mutinied last week-end. It is reported that the district may be either returned to Czechoslovakia or taken over by the Germans.