BRITISH CABINET APPROVES PEACE PLAN

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22512, 21 September 1938, Page 11

BRITISH CABINET APPROVES PEACE PLAN

Details of Settlement Proposals Not Disclosed

CZECH GOVERNMENT MEETS TO CONSIDER ATTITUDE

Reported Acceptance of Scheme as Basis For Negotiations

Beyond the report that the British Cabinet has approved the agreed French and British policy for the settlement of the Czech crisis, the details of the plan are as yet undisclosed, and the attitude of the Czech Government remains a matter, for interested speculation.

Surmises of the contents of the British-French plan have been published in Prague, and comment there has

ranged from emphatic rejection of any proposal for the cession of territory to the more moderate view that - attention should be paid to consolidating the non-German parts of the country if the Sudeten situation is hopeless.

The value of such comment is limited in view of the official announcement from London that no details of the peace plan will be released until after Mr Chamberlain's next meeting with Herr Hitler.

A meeting of the Czech Cabinet yesterday had not clarified the situation, but it was persistently reported that Czechoslovakia had accepted the plan in principle as a basis for negotiation.

French newspaper opinion, on its accepted version of the peace proposals, regards the alleged concessions to the Sudetens as "sad but necessary."

Opinion in America is inclined to be critical of Britain for having allowed Herr Hitler to obtain a "diplomatic victory." Mr Roosevelt, however, has not broken his official silence, and the general attitude of aloofness is said to have been intensified.

CZECH REACTION TO PLAN Position Still Not Clarified REPORTED ACCEPTANCE IN PRINCIPLE

"GROSS BETRAYAL BY POWERS" British-French Plan Attacked CZECHS ADVISED TO ACQUIESCE (TOTTED PRESS A3SOCIATIOR—COPYRIGHT.* (Received September 20, 11 p.m.) LONDON, September 19. The Australian Associated Press says that Czech circles in London declare that they did not believe England and France were capable of "such a gross betrayal, thus justifying Hitler's • contempt of democracies." . It is undoubted that the public of England and France, with the imminence of war apparently removed, are disposed to withhold judgment until the British-French proposals are fully known. The French newspapers, with one exception, support the BritishFrench plan and urge the Czechs to acquiesce. "Le Soir" attacks the agreement, and says that if reports from London are true, France will, for the first time, have, denounced her contractual obligations and will, for the first time, have consented to resign the French position. The Berlin newspapers express the opinion that the only menace now lies in Prague's obstinacy. . The Prague correspondent ot tne British United Press states that it it, reliably stated that it is not intended to accept the plan, as a basis for further negotiations with France ai It is authoritatively stated in Paris that the report that M. Daladier and M. Bonnet are going to Prague is unfounded. . The Prague correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph" says the first reactions to the reported details oS the settlement plan were sheer incredulity, followed by a wave of indignation. Officials did not believe that France would consent to terms involving a dismemberment and a surrender to the most radical demands of Herr Hitler. The public demands the rejection of the plan regardless of cost. . In the meantime Prague is calm and tensely expectant. The authorities are taking further measures to maintain public security. A strict letter censorship has been imposed, and there are also restrictions on the use of electricity. The general tone of the French press is that the peace j>lan is sad but necessary."

(TOTTED r&ESB *SSOCIATIpK —COPTRUMT.)

(Received September 21, 1 a.m.)

LONDON, -September 20

The Australian Associated "ress states that Cabinet, after two hours' discussion, approved at midnight of the British and French policy. No further meeting has been arranged. A message from Prague says the Czech Cabinet resumed at 11 a.m., Dr. Benes presiding. The position is still unclarified. Reuters correspondent persists in itating that the peace plan has been accepted in principle as a basis for negotiations, but that further explanation is requested. A strict censorship has been im-, posed, foreign telephone calls are being tapped and foreign newspapers confiscated. An official broadcast stated that the British and French conversations constitute a further step in tne dramatic developments, but they are not yet the last word. The. Prague newspapers publish surmises of the British plan. The public's reaction is that Czechoslovakia has been abandoned. Some declare: "We must go down fighting,"' but the more moderate counsels emphasise the probability of an international guarantee and stress the importance of saving the rest ot the country since the Sudeten situation is hopeless. Official circles in Berlin appear completely in the dark over the outcome of the London conference. A Foreign Office spokesman stated that everything depended on the meeting between Mr Chamberlain and Herr Hitler at Godesberg on Wednesday. . The Prague correspondent of the British United Press states that a Government representative . declared: "We have not changed our policy. We cannot cede territory or accept a plebiscite, which would mean the same thing. We will fight first."

Official circles in Prague express the opinion that the Czechs should fight while they are in possession of strategic frontier mountain ranges. The Paris correspondent of "The Times" says one ,of the principal Points M. Daladier made to the French Cabinet was that Britain, while not disputing France's right to honour her obligations to Czechoslovakia, refused to commit herself to military support unless France s integrity was threatened. Therefore, M. Daladier declared, it was hj» duty at least to support the presentation of proposals to Prague. SUPPORT FROM INDIAN PRINCES ——— „ (Received September 20, 8 p.m.) SIMLA, September 19. Additional princes who have offered to place their forces at, the disposal of the King-Emperor in the event of ;var are the. Maharajahs of Gwalior, Jodhpur, Danta. Dungarpur, Maharoa, and Kota, the ' Maharawat of Partabgarh, and the Kawabs of Sachin, Palampur, and Took.

CLAIMS ADVANCED BY HUNGARY TERRITORY SOUGHT FROM CZECHS ADMIRAL HORTHY TO VISIT HERR HITLER (Received September 20, 9.30 p.m.) BUDAPEST, September 20. The Regent • (Admiral Horthy) is asking for support from Herr Hitler and Mr Chamberlain for Hungary's territorial claims against Czechoslovakia. • . Reuter's Budapest correspondent says it is learned **T*£s!? m £m source that Admiral Horthy will visit Herr Hitler. at Berchtesgaden to-day.