1939-03-13 — Page 7

THE CHINA MAIL, MARCH 13, 1989

CREATING CRISIS ATMOSPHERE

MORE GERMAN COMMENT ON THE SITUATION

Reichenberg, To-day.

The radio address of the new

Slovak Premier, Dr. Sidor, yester- day, has astonished the Slovak Hlinka guards and the German na- tional

group, the Reichenberg paper, "Zeit," reports.

Regarding Sidor's statement that he had demanded the withdrawal of Czech police and gendarmerie

Working Up TENSION German Feeling RISING IN Against Czechs BRATISLAVA

A

Berlin, To-day.

stream of reports alleging the ill-treatment of Germans in Czecho-Slovakia are pouring into Berlin, recalling similar reports during the September crisis.

Newspapers allege that many Germans have been wounded and the windows of German shops smashed.

and the release of political prison- The German Newsagency alleges that the Czechs

ers within 24 hours, opposition cir- cles declare that Dr. Sidor is only pretending to have power in his hands.

In reality, the power is still in the hands of the executive.

This became evident yesterday afternoon when numerous Germans as well as Slovaks, who had assem- bled in front of the headquarters of the German Party at Bratislava on the occasion of a conference of the German Party leaders,

Prague, To-day. tinually patrolling the Armoured cars are con-

streets of Bratislava.

Tension is increasing. engagement between the Hlinka According to the Slovaks, an guards and Czech soldiers result-

ed in 11 casualties.

The new Slovak ministers were sworn in and immediately return-

attacked Hlinka guards at Prescror with fix-have arrived in Prague, ed bayonets and wounded eleven.

"Zeit," the former Sudeten organ now published in Germany, reports that German students were wounded by Czechs in Prague. It adds that in Brno the Czechs smashed the windows of Ger- man houses and numerous attempts had been made to tear down the swastika flag. A German worker had been writes "Montag," was flung to the ground and beaten, more and more intolerable.. were

Shouts of "Down with the Swas-population which almost hourly is tika," and "Benes will come back thrown into a new state of “agita- and show you Germans" and the tion by Czech wireless declarations, singing of "Thunder and Light-now expects "clarification of the vil-ning over Germans," which the situation.

Agency explains is a notorious tary measures continue unaffected. Meanwhile Czech mili- anti-German song, are reported.

dispersed by Czech police "although the crowd had behaved entirely correctly."

Delegations from German lages in Slovakia are arriving con- tinuously in Bratislava urging Karmasin to render help "in view of the extremely serious situation resulting from the Czech action in the provinces." Trans-Ocean,

BRITISH LOAN AN ESTRANGING ANSWER

It alleges that Germans who did not remove their hats during the song were struck down.

that

TALK OF PUTSCH "Zeit" finally declares there is talk in Prague of a putsch this week for the return of Benes.

ed to Slovakia.

decree postponing the session of the Slovak parliament.

President Hacha has signed a

Dr. Sidor, the new premier of to discuss the latest developments Slovakia, is on his way to Prague

with the Central Government.

growing Reuter:

"The

from the energetic attitude of the The number of incidents arising population and the interference of Czech soldiery increases hour by hour.

Prague has already admitted that eight deaths have occurred while the foreign press reports 19.

The same agency reports from

The Slovak people, however, has Bratislava that the chief of the not allowed itself to be intimidat- Hlinka guards issued a manifesto ed by "brutal violation by Czech declaring that Dr. Sidor" is no bayonets" but continues to demon- longer worthy to call himself com-strate with increasing violence. mander-in-chief of the guards" | Trans-Ocean. and it is suggested in Budapest that an independant Slovak state be formed under German protec- tion. ― Reuter.

"UNTENABLE"

Tokyo, Yesterday. Japanese circles who hitherto have advocated a conciliatory

Berlin, To-day. policy on the part of Japan to Reports received in Berlin yes- wards the Democratic States, in terday afternoon and evening about particular towards Britain and development of the situation in America express sharp disappoint- by the Czechs against the Slovak Slovakia and the proceedings, taken ment about the new loan to China. population show that the present The important economic organ, state of affairs in Slovakia grows "Chugai Shogyo Shimpo" speaks more and more untenable. this morning of joint action by London and Chungking against Japanese finance plans in North China and demands not only im mediate counter-measures but also an energetic Japanese protest in London.

Deep concern is expressed in Berlin political circles at the im- pression that Czech soldiers appear to have been particularly radical in their treatment of Germans. This impression is also conveyed by

of

Was

Berlin, To-day. The Czecho-Slovak Govern- ment was again strongly criticised in an officially in- spired statement last night. Reuter.

HLINKA GUARDS DEFY SIDOR

Bratislava, To-day.

longer worthy to act as supreme commander of the Hlinka guards." The proclamation further says

SLOVAK DIET PROTEST

Bratislava, To-day.

In Slovak Diet circles, it was stated yesterday afternoon that a demand had been made that the Slovak Diet Presidency should be called to account for its action in going to Prague to negotiate with the Central Government, without authority to do so from a plenary session of the Slovak Diet.

The Presidency of the Diet, it is de- clared, was under an obligation during hours so decisive for the future of Slovakia, of confiding in the highest légal body in Slovakia and obtaining instructions as to the course of action.

At the same time, the question is asked: What is to happen to the eighteen arrested Diet members.→→ Trans-Ocean.

SEAMEN'S UNION CASE SENTENCES

The Chief of Staff of the Hlinka 85, Leung Kay, 50, and Chu Po- The case against Wong Nga-lun, guards, Murgae, has issued a pro- hang, A

with having assisted In political circles, it is declared in the Berlin paper "Montag"

ion, and with being members of an report from Bratislava published clamation declaring Dr. Sidor "no in the moment of an unlawful that Tokyo might have expected stating that the headquarters

society, the Chinese Seamen's Un- better understanding of the pro- the Carpatho-German Party

unlawful society, ended his morn- sent position in the Far East and, fired upon during Saturday night in particular, reserve on the part while numerous Germans have been that Hlinka guard officers have re-

ing. of England towards the Chinese taken into custody. government. The loan announced

"Montag" fused to place themselves at the recalls that on Saturday evening the disposal of the Government appoint- is an estranging answer to the proclamation of the Germans when ed by Prague, particularly of declaration the Japanese Karmasin spoke, was disturbed by the Sidor Cabinet. Foreign Minister, Mr. Arita, ap- pealing to the Democratic States

the firing of rifle shots. for more

understanding for the work of reconstruction in the new Far East Trans-Ocean,

“INTOLERABLE”

The only slogan must be; compromising fight against Tension throughout Slovakia violation of the rights of since the Czech coup on Friday,

Mr. Houston, convicting defen- dants, said that he held that the organisation was a successor, to the the former Seamen's Union.

First