DMBER 1, 1988.
DECISIVE
MEETING
TO-DAY
OF SUDETENS
New Czech Proposals To Be Given Study
General Feeling Of Optimism Growing
Prague, To-day.
LORD HALIFAX
AMBASSADOR TO
HAS BUSY DAY VISIT HERR
IN LONDON
London, To-day.
In addition to
conversations
RIBBENTROP
Berlin, To-day.
The British Ambassa- dor, Sir Nevile Hender- son, returned from Lon- don by plane yesterday
·
It is now perfectly clear that allegations that the Diplomatic activity in London on Sudeten Germans have rejected the new Czech the Czech issue, continued all day proposals out of hand are completely without yesterday. foundation. Discussions are now proceeding, with Lord Runci-between the Foreign Minister afternoon.
man and his staff playing a prominent part: Ambassador to Berlin, before the sador will call at the German For- and Sir Nevile Henderson, the It is expected that the Ambas- The atmosphere last evening was generally latter left for Berlin, and inter-eign Office to-day in order to in- more optimistic and the feeling is growing views with the American and form the German Government of that the situation has taken a strong turn for French Ambassadors, Lord Hali. the present British attitude in the the better.
far as possible in Government posts in their own districts with the exception of Defence organisations,
Lord Runciman yesterday (3) Nationals to be employed as morning had a further meeting with Dr. Kundt, the leader of the Sudeten German Party's de legation, while Mr. Ashton Gwatkin, the second Foreign] (4) Office expert, went to Marienbad and saw Herr Konrad Henlein.
The Political Committee of the Sudeten German Party has been called to meet to-day, when pre- sumably the new Czech proposals will be discussed.
NEW PLANS TO BE PUBLISHED
These proposals, .termed by the Germans, Basis No. 3, are expected to be published to-mor- row (Friday) for general in- formation.
(5)
(6)
(7)
The number of Czech police in non-Czech districts to be gradually reduced,
fax had calls from Mr. Winston Czech question. Churchill, the Czech Minister and the Polish Charge d'Affaires.
Lord Halifax and Mr. Win. ston Churchill conversed for 40 minutes on the Czech and Central European situations generally.
POLISH VIEWS From the Polish Charge
The German press continues to maintain considerable reserve in: its comments on the new Hodza plan since official information re- garding this plan has not yet been made available here.
The comments of the German papers and of political quarters, however, leave little doubt that any halfway measures which' fail
The law relating to languages d'Affaires, Lord Halifax presum- to fulfil the Sudeten German de-
ably obtained the outlook of the mand for an
to be modified,
unlimited autonomy
A loan to be floated for public Polish Government which is in-will be rejected by the Germans.
to be timately concerned with Czech Trans-Ocean.
works, part of which
After the American Ambassa-
used to modernise industrial problem. undertakings in the Sudeten German region,
Each district to enjoy cultural
autonomy.
DECISIVE MEETING
dor, Mr. Joseph Kennedy, had BRITAIN AND
,'
called at the Foreign Office, he saw the Czech Minister at the American Embassy. Reuter.
political BRITAIN'S GRAVE
RESPONSIBILITY
The meeting of the political committee of the Sudeten German It is understood that Presi-party, called for to-day will be de- dent Benes will make a proclama- cisive and will show whether or tion, probably to-day, setting not President Benes' proposals will forth the basic features of the satisfy the conditions enunciated Government's new proposals by Herr Kundt for the resumption dealing with the nationalities of negotiations.
problem which have been ela- General belief is that the party borated between him and the will reply in the affirmative. Prime Minister, Dr. Hodza. Reuter.
-
The Inner Political Cab- inet meeting yesterday after- noon agreed to the details of the proposals after they had been explained by Dr. Hodza, whose report on the general situation they also · approved.
tion.
The paper
Berlin, To-day.
HERR HITLER'S INFLUENCE
London, To-day.
Sir Nevile Henderson arrived
"Voelkischer Beobachter" writes in Berlin early last evening by that the British Government has air from London.
The Ministerial consultations adopted a grave responsibility and
with which the British Ambas- must do its best to bring about a permanent, honourable and just solu-sador was associated while in in London have enabled Sir IMPORTANT INTERVIEW Although nothing definite has yet
considers that this Nevile to return to his post with been revealed regarding the sub-solution will provide that the Sude a full and intimate knowledge of stance of the discussion which the ten German demands will be made what is in the minds of the Pre- deputy, Dr. Kundt, chairman of the the foundation of further negotia-mier and his colleagues. Sudeten German Party and Dr.tions in the same way as the Prague It is now generally appreciated Sebekowsky had with President plan which, the "Voelkischer Beo- that the Ambassador was not recall- Benes yesterday, great importance bachter" declares, is to be attribut-ed for the purpose of receiving in- is attached to this interview ined principally to British influence,structions on any new communica- itself as being symptomatic for the Referring to the British view tioh to the German Government.
While British official circles These developments, together present state of the political situa- that a certain relaxation has come
not unmindful of the. influence that a with Lord Runciman's mission's tion. In any case it has served to about, the paper stresses
spread talks, Tuesday's meeting between refute rumours
to permanency of this relaxation de- which Herr Hitler can exercise Dr. Kundt and President Benes, the effect that the Sudeten Germans pends upon certain quarters desist the Sudeten. Germans in the sense all point in the same direction, had already rejected the new proing from "stirring up an irrespon-of moderation, self-control and namely, towards an agreement on posals of the Czechoslovakian Gov-aible panic."-Trans-Ocean:" the question of the principle un-ernment. Actually this new Czech derlying Herr Henlein's Karlsbad plan has not yet been made the speech with its demand for "re-subject of direct negotiations -- be- cognition and equality," for the tween the Sudeten Germans, and
the Czechs. Trans-Ocean. Sudetens.
AGREEMENT EXPECTED
It is believed that President | Benes' proclamation will urge that the problem be attacked in
HAIFUNG COAST SHELLED
pant Swatow, To-day.
:..
are
on
spirit of constructive conciliation, at the present moment the new phase of the negotiations in Prague is recognised as constituting the key to progress in the direction of an agreed settlement and news of the development of the recent ten- tative contacts into regular discus- sions between the two sides; ́is. Japanese warships along the hopefully awaited,
REMAINS IN LONDON ed activity and yesterday attack- It was at one time expected that Rome, To-day. ed the Chinese shore batteries Lord Halifax would return to York- between Hong Kong and Swatow, shire yesterday but the Foreign Se- Many houses were demolished cretary has decided to remain in and scores killed and wounded London overnight, ** when several Japanese gunboats. He received a number of callers heavily bombarded the Haltung at the Foreign Ofke yesterday district. Our Own Correspon among whom Mr. Winston dent.
Churchill,-British, Wireless,
two stages, immediate and later VESUVIUS ACTIVE
programmes.
SEVEN POINTS
VESUVIUS ACTIVE South China Coast have resum-
The immediate programmé com- The Vesuvius suddenly developed a violent eruptive activity yester- prises.seven..points: (1) National Groups to be given day night, flames offering amar specified proportions of their vellous spectacle to the population. share in the administration, No immediate danger for the (2) Germans to have a proportion villages near the Vesuvius, however,
exists. Trang-Ocean. of 35 per cent,
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.