CZECH REJECTION OF PROPOSALS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21154, 29 September 1938, Page 10

CZECH REJECTION OF PROPOSALS

GERMANY’S CRUEL DEMANDS Reply by President Benes Preparation for Defence British Official Wireless RUGBY, September 27. The Czecho-Slovakian Legation has published the text of the letter which was handed to the Foreign Secretary (Lord Halifax) on Monday by the Czech Minister (Dr. Jan Masaryk), and which constitutes the Czechs’ reply to the German memorandum. Concessions Offered In its course the letter stated:— "Britain and France are very well aware that we agreed, under the most severe pressure, to the so-called AngloFrench plan for ceding parts of Czecho-Slovakia. We accepted this plan under extreme duress. We had not even time to make any representations about its many unworkable features. Nevertheless, we accepted it because we understood it was the end of the demands to be made, and because it followed from Anglo-French pressure that these two Powers would accept responsibility for our reduced frontiers, and would guarantee us their support in the event of our being feloniously attacked. The vulgar German campaign continued. “While Mr Chamberlain was at Godesberg,” the Note continues, “the following message was received by my Government from the British and French representatives in Prague:—‘We have agreed with France that Czecho-Slovakia should be informed that France and Great Britain cannot continue to take the responsibility for advising them not to mobilise.’ “My Government, headed by General Sirovy declared that they accept the full responsiblility for their predecessors’ decision to accept the stern terms of the Anglo-French Plan. Yesterday, after Mr Chamberlain's return from Godesberg, a new proposition was handed by the British Minister (Mr Newton) to my Government with the additional information that Great Britain, acting solely as an intermediary, is neither advising nor pressing my Government in any way. The Foreign Minister (Herr Krofta), in receiving the plan from Mr Newton, assured him that Czecho-Slovakla would study it in the same spirit in which they had co-operated with Great Britain and France hitherto. Conquerors’ Terms “My Government has now studied the plan and the map. It is a de facto ultimatum of a sort usually presented to a vanquished nation, and it is not a proposition to a sovereign state which has shown the greatest possible readiness to make sacrifices for appeasement. Not the smallest trace of such readiness for sacrifices has yet been manifested by Herr Hitler’s Government and my Government is amazed at the contents of the memorandum. “The proposals go far beyond what we agreed to in the Anglo-French plan. They deprive us of every safeguard for our national existence. We are to yield up large proportions of our carefully prepared defences and to admit the German armies deep into our country before we have been able to organise it on a new basis, or make any preparations for its defence. Our national and economic Independence would automatically disappear with the acceptance of Herr Hitler’s plan. “The whole process of moving the population is to reduce to a panic flight on the part of those who will not accept the German Nazi regime. They have to leave their homes without even the right to take their personal belongings, or even, in the case of peasants, their cow. “Absolutely Unacceptable” “My Government wish me to declare in all solemnity that Herr Hitler’s demands in their present form are absolutely and unconditionally unacceptable to my Government. Against these new and cruel demands my Government feel bound to make their utmost resistance, and we shall do so, God helping. “We rely on the two Western democracies, whose wishes we have followed against our own judgment, to • tand by us in this hour of trial." POSSIBILITY OF PEACE CZECH HOPES REVEALED United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received September 28, 8.25 p.m.) PRAGUE, September 28. An official broadcast commentary on Herr Hitler’s speech said: “We will never allotv the nation to be crippled. There is still one faint possibility for peace. Our nation, which made cruel sacrifices, has a right demand that Germany show a conciliatory and temperate spirit, both in her claims and the method of solution. If she refuses our nation will not bow to threats. USE OF PEACEFUL INSTRUMENTS CZECH CHALLENGE TO GERMANY United Press Association—By Electee Telegraph—Copyright (Received September 28, 6.30 p.m.) PRAGUE, September 27. In an official broadcast the Czech President (Dr. Benes) said: “I cannot allow the destruction of the life of the nation of Czecho-Slovakla. Nevertheless, I am ready to solve the entire problem by peaceful negotiation and to fulfil the demands of the British and French proposals, however cruel. We demand that Germany, too, should prove her professed love for peace by using peaceful Instruments.