"TROUBLE MUST BE ENDED ONCE AND FOR ALL"

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22511, 20 September 1938, Page 9

"TROUBLE MUST BE ENDED ONCE AND FOR ALL"

Herr Hitler Grants Interview On Czech Crisis

"NO GERMAN WANTS WAR WITH BRITAIN"

Warrant for Herr Henlein's Arrest Resented

(PUTTED PBESS ASSOCIATION—COPTKIGHT.) (Received September 19, 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, September 19,

The Berchtesgaden correspondent of the "Daily Mail" says Herr Hitler in an interview said that the Czech Constitution seemed to provide only one thing, namely, the suppression of 8,000,000 minority subjects by 7,000,000 Czechs. Herr Hitler added: "This trouble must be ended once and for all, and ended now. It is a tumour poisoning the whole European organism, and its continuance would infect international relations until they fatally collapsed.

"The existence of Czechoslovakia as Russia's ally in the very heart of Germany forced me to create a new air force, which led France and Britain into increasing- their air fleets. If we failed to settle the crisis now, Field-Marshal Goring' would soon ask me to order that our air force be redoubled. Then France and Britain would redouble, and the mad race' would continue.

"Nobody in Germany dreams of attacking France, for whom we harbour no resentment, but on the contrary a strong feeling of sympathy. No German wants -war with Britain."

Herr Hitler argued that the French Ministers' promise to stand by Czechoslovakia was a contradiction of their own past actions. France had allowed the Saar to vote itself from her control, and Britain in the same way had let the Southern Irish have complete autonomy. "Holland," he said, "gave the Belgians independence a century ago. The Czechs were never independent until the peace treaties raised them to undeserved mastery over minorities more numerous than themselves. The creation of the post-war Czech Republic was a lunacy. The Sudetens will never accept Czech rule."

Herr Hitler resented the warrant for Herr Henlein's arrest. He declared: "If Herr Henlein is arrested, I myself shall become leader of the Sudetens. I would be glad to see how long after that Dr. Benes would issue decrees. I hope he would not issue a warrant for my arrest. If the Czechs had possessed a great statesman, he would long ago have allowed the Sudetens to join the Reich, thus assuring autonomy for the. Czechs themselves, but Dr. Benes is a politician, not a statesman."

THE VOLUNTEER CORPS

PLEBISCITE NOT ACCEPTABLE

Systematic Campaign Against Czechs

Rejection by Czech

Prime Minister

AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS

NOT CHANGED

IN BERLIN

(Received September 19, 10.45 aan.)

(Received September 19, 11.45 a.m.)

LONDON, September 18.

LONDON, September 18,

The Berlin correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph" describes the formation of the Sudeten German volunteer corps as the latest step in Germany's systematic campaign against the Czechs. This band is apparently composed of Sudeten refugees of military age and German "volunteers" armed with German weapons.

According' to Field-Marshal Goring's organ, "National Zeitung," the corps, which is being stationed on the frontier, will not stand on the defensive, but will fight the Czechs inside Sudetenland, thus increasing the danger to peace. The organisation of the corps is more remarkable, as Germany still retains diplomatic relatiqns with Czechoslovakia.

Plauen, 16 miles from the Czech frontier, is so full of troops that soldiers are sleeping in the shops. The same is apparently true of the whole frontier. Motorists from Dresden to Berlin on Friday passed long columns of Nazi guards moving up to the frontier. It is understood that the preparations against air raids are proceeding in Berlin and neighbourhood. "Archie" emplacements are manned day and night. Herr Henlein's headquarters, are somewhere in Germany. It is believed that his proclamation forming the volunteer corps, although purporting to come from Asch, was drawn up in Germany. Herr Henlein's manifesto was issued by the official German news agency. The correspondent of the British United Press in Berlin says the official news agency circulates Herr Henlein's manifesto addressed to the Sudeten Germans, declaring that the hour of liberation is approaching. It adds that hundreds of thousands of Sudetens are joining the volunteer corps, ready to stake their lives to deliver their homeland.

The Berlin correspondent of the British United Press states that the official news agency has circulated a message - from Dresden asserting that the volunteer corps numbers 40.000.

The Prague correspondent of "The Times" states that the formation of the volunteer corps has caused the situation to take a more serious turn. It is believed that between 5000 and 10,000 young Sudetens went to Germany last week. ■ The Metz correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph" states that defensive military preparations are continuing on the whole of the German side of the Moselle-Luxemburg frontier. Business has been brought to "a standstill in Lorraine and Luxemburg. The Prague correspondent of the British' United Press states that men aged from 17 to 60 are forbidden to go to Hungary.

ATTITUDE TO MINORITIES

The Czech Prime Minister (Dr. Hodza), in a broadcast, said- that a plebiscite was not acceptable because it would create a series of nationality problems for the future Czechoslovakia.

Dr. Hodza said he was determined to continue his work for peace in spite of Herr Henlein's refusal to come to an understanding with the Government and his attempt to start an uprising. The Government's attitude towards the minorities, especially the Sudeten Germans, had not changed. "The Government does not need Herr Henlein and his leaders who fled because of the collapse of the rising in Sudeten territory, showing that the majority of Sudetens love peace. The Government will not institute persecution, but it demands respect for law." Herr Henlein's order for the formation of a Sudeten German volunteer corps' was accompanied by a manifesto which states:

"The Sudeten Germans for years have sought collaboration with- the Czech people. The Czechs continued to intensify their hatred of everything German and the Prague Government has carried on the ruthless war of destruction. The Czech authorities in the last few weeks have let fall their mask. -The Prague Government is no longer master of the situation. In the face of the Bolshevist and Hussite elements, Dr. Benes is still cheating and deceiving his people about the real state of affairs. He is too cowardly to admit the collapse of his policy."

The manifesto continues: "Dr. Benes's last hope in the European catastrophe is letting loose the Bolshevist and Hussite hordes in the uniforms of malignant Czech soldiery on the defenceless Sudeten Germans. Ten thousand of our racial comrades were.forced to fly across the frontier to avoid destruction or being taken off as defenceless hostages. We therefore take the right which peoples have always exercised in times of extreme need, to take up arms and form a Sudeten volunteer corps."

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