1939-03-14 — Page 2

THE CHINA MAIL, MARCH 14, 1939

HITLER DEMANDS MADE IN PRAGUE

OZECHS EXPECTED TO SUBMIT

REUTER. MESSAGES RECEIVED IN HONG KONG THIS MORNING SIMULTANEOUSLY REPORT LARGE MOVEMENTS OF GER- MAN MECHANISED TROOPS AND THE PRESENTING OF DEMANDS BY BERLIN TO PRAGUE.

Germany, it is semi-officially learned in Prague, is asking the Central Government in Prague to give Slovakia the right of self-determination, to replace the present Czech Defence Minis- ter, General Sirovy, and the Minister of In- terior, and to guarantee the protection of Ger- man minorities in Bohemia and Moravia. Dr. Tiso, the Slovak ex-Premier, has requested Pre- sident Hacha to summon the Slovak Parliament at Bratislava at 10 o'clock this morning. The request is stated to have been made as a result of Dr. Tiso's talk with Hitler in Berlin yester- day.

President Hacha has complied with the request, and the Slovak Parliament will have to decide the future of Slovakia.

Dr. Tiso and Dr. Durcansky arrived in Berlin yesterday by special plane from Vienna and drove to the Foreign Office, where they saw Herr von Ribbentrop, the Nazi Foreign Minister.

Herr von Ribbentrop took them straight to the Chancellery where Hitler was waiting.

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The German demands Prague presumably resulted from this meeting, though the official communique merely stated: "Pending issues were discussed." PREMIER CALM Meanwhile Mr. Neville Cham- berlain made a statement in the House of Commons yesterday on the situation.

He declared that according to his reports only minor incidents had occurred in-Bratislava in the

-GOERING- RETURNS TO BERLIN

Rome; To-day,

Field-Marshal Hermann Goer- ing, the German Air Minister, who has been holidaying in Italy, left here unexpectedly for Berlin by train yesterday afternoon,

It is believed hero that Field- Marshal Goering's return, to Ger- may may be due to the events in Czecho-Slovakia and the renewed tension between Bérlin

Prague.--Reuter.

and

Some 200 lads, aged from 15 to 18, are given ten to eleven weeks. free training through the help of the Ministry of Labour, to fit them for the Merchant Service, at the Gravesend Sea School. These boys come from all parts of Britain and the present batch include a young Welsh miner and a grocer's assistant from Glasgow, Photo shows boys at fire drill on their land-ship, being taught how to use smoke apparatus for, fires in ships" hölds.

JAPS. READY TO TAKE ALL STEPS

Tokyo, To-day. sonable requests, the Foreign Min- The Soviet Union must assumeister, Mr. Arita, declared yester- A Nazi spokesman made a signi- responsibility for the consequences day, discussing the fishery negotia- ficant speech over the Vienna radio should she disregard Japan's rea- tions with Russia in the House of late last night.

"MOMENT NEAR"

He said: "Czecho-Slovakia's his-

last few days, and the situation torical mission has always been to ANGLO-AMERICAN

calm.

there appeared to be outwardly be the bridge between Germany and south-east Europe. The mo- ment for fulfilment of this mission is near."

NO FULL DRESS CRISIS Meanwhile German circles in Berlin do not expect the Czech Government to prove unreasonable, and a full dress European crisis. Is not anticipated.

Poland is maintaining an attitude Warsaw despatches show that of great reserve, Opinion in War-

the problem must come as result saw seems to be that a solution of

PROTEST ON CURRENCY

LONDON, TO-DAY.

Peers.

Mr. Arita added: The Govern- ment is prepared to take the most effective and adequate measures for safeguarding Japanese rights and interests with firm determina- tion should the worst eventualities materialise, Reuter.

WITH LEGITIMATE BRITISH TRADE INTERESTS.

It is thought the German plan

In making this announcement involves the establishment of

of the real wishes of the Slovaks. BRITAIN IS MAKING 'RE- in the House of Commons yester. genuine autonomy in. Slovakia and

London and Paris continue to PRESENTATIONS TO JAPAN day, Mr. R. A. Butler, Under- Carpatho-Ukraine, with adequate keep in close touch, but the atti- THAT THE RECENT JAPAN- Secretary for Foreign Affairs, guarantees against damage, to Gertude in both capitals is that the ESE CURRENCY REGULA- said that the so-called provision

raan life and property.

The Prague Government, how- and France.

dispute is no concern of Britain TIONS IN NORTH CHINA ARE al government in Peiping an LIKELY TO INTERFERE nounced that as from March 11 evor, fs expected to resign.-Router. 8:8. GUARDS CROSS BORDER

Other reports state that 25,000 Nazi 88. Guards have crossed from Austria into Slovakia as far as Bratislava, while Hungary In massing troops on her frontier.

The regular Hungarian border troops, have been heavily reinfore- ed, though purpose of the measura is apparently merely a precaution | to deal with an anticipated exodus of refugees from Slovakia.

GERMAN MECHANISED TROOPS ON MARCH IN BAVARIA

Munich, To-day, -- Movements of German troops in Bavaria in 'recent weeks have been large enough to attract attention, and have been the subject of dincimsion among the public.

Movements have | been observed in more than usual

Hungary is apparently not dis- posed to take advantage of the pre-place from Nuremberg to Munich. sent situation, Budapest's attitude being that her frontiers have now. been fixed and will remain as at present.

|_ strength in the direction of Salzburg, and some have taken

-The troops involved are mostly mechanised detachments with light guns, anti-aircraft guns and armoured car

-Reuter:

the export of 12 specified com. modities would not be permit ted unless the foreign exchange proceeds were sold against Federal Reserve notes at 1/2d.

U.S.A. TOO

These commodities together accounted for a high proportion of the export trade of North China.

A Washington despatch says that the American Under-Secre tary of State, Mr. Sumner Welles,. announced that the United States had protested to Japan against the new currency measuręs, spe- cifically objecting to the enfore- rency to the exclusion of Chinese I currency. — Reuter,