UNDER GERMAN “PROTECTION”

Southland Times, Issue 23768, 16 March 1939, Page 5

UNDER GERMAN “PROTECTION”

FUTURE STATUS OF CZECHS FATE PLACED IN HANDS OF HITLER (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received March 15, 10.40 p.m.) LONDON, March 15. The conversations between Herr Hitler and Dr Hacha ended at 3.5 a.m. Dr Hacha was very grave as he drove away to his hotel. He declined to make a statement. It is believed that Germany received full satisfaction on all points. The German morning newspapers, which normally appear at 1.30 a.m. were not published until 6 a.m. An official statement issued later said: “Herr Hitler has taken the Czech people under the protection of the German Reich. The autonomous development of Czech national life will be guaranteed by the German Reich. An agreement along these lines has been signed by Herr Hitler, Dr Hacha, the German Foreign Minister (Herr Joachim von Ribbentrop) and the Czech Foreign Minister (Dr Chvalkovsky). To reach final appeasement Dr Hacha placed the fate of the Czech people and land trustingly in the hands of the Fuhrer, and the Fuhrer accepted this.”

According to German reports the visit to Berlin of Dr Hacha and Dr Chvalkovsky was made at their own special request. The representative of The Times in Prague says it was believed that Dr Hacha intended to offer Germany a Customs union to prevent German occupation of the Czech State.

Dr Hacha and Dr Chvalkovsky were received wth ceremony when they arrived at Berlin from Prague. They had a long conference with Herr von Ribbentrop, and at 1 a.m. went to the Chancellery to see Herr Hitler. CZECH RESISTANCE The Czech Cabinet met at 2 a.m. At Mahrisch-Ostrau Czech civilians attempted to prevent German tanks from entering and sang the Czech national anthem. The Germans fired blank shots and the crowds dispersed. More shooting was reported during a later demonstration. Little opposition was feared to German military action in Slovakia. It was considered that the German border garrisons in Bohemia and Moravia were of such strength that they did not need reinforcement. The general expectation was that the Germans would move through Brno along the proposed German motor road and thus create a corridor separating the Czech State (Bohemia and Moravia) from Slovakia and Ruthenia. This would isolate the Czechs and prevent constant border incidents. It was officially announced that German troops had occupied MahrischOstrau and advanced to Mistek, on the border between the Czech State and Slovakia. Troops began moving from Vienna at 5 p.m. yesterday along the road from Znaim to Brno. It is estimated that 200,000 troops were concentrated near the Czechoslovak border. Large nunlIbers of German troops also left Vienna for Brno. I German circles in Bratislava stated

that German motorized artillery was passing through towards Brno.

It is understood that 40 divisions of troops are moving throughout the Reich. It is estimated that 15 divisions were sent to the Czech borders and that the remainder awaited orders pending developments in the Czech State. The general impression in informed quarters was that the troops would move into Slovakia last night after an ultimatum to the Czechs to evacuate. The huge movements of troops have almost brought traffic in Vienna to a standstill.

A run on all the banks in Bratislava was checked by a decree limiting withdrawals to 500 crowns.

M. Durcansky has sent Notes to all Governments announcing the creation of the new State under the presidency of Father Tiso and asking for diplomatic recognition. It is officially stated in Prague that constitutional relations between Prague and Ruthenia have ceased to exist and that Prague is no longer obliged to defend Ruthenia’s borders. It is officially stated from Chust, the capital of Ruthenia, that the Ruthenian Diet has been convened for tomorrow afternoon to decide Ruthenia’s future.