MORE MINORITY DEMANDS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22513, 22 September 1938, Page 11

MORE MINORITY DEMANDS

Hungarians And

Poles

REQUESTS FOR GERMAN

SUPPORT

(UNITED PBXSS ASSOCIATION COPTKIOHT.)

(Received September 21, 8 p.m.)

WARSAW, September 20,

Mass meetings of Poles throughout Polish Silesia are demanding the return of Teschen from Czechoslovakia. Seven thousand at Katowice declared, “We want to march against the Czechs.” They also passed a resolution assuring the Poles in Czechoslovakia that the nation was supporting them and demanding the formation of a volunteer corps.

The newspapers demand the cession of Teschen. A Foreign Office official told the British. United Press that Poland will not recognise a solution which does not cqde Teschen to' Poland. Teschen stands on the frontier of Czechoslovakia, about 16 miles south-east of Moravska Ostrava. The surrounding district was a subject of dispute after the Great War, being claimed by both Poland and Czechoslovakia. In 1920 the Conference of Ambassadors divided it between the two countries, the town itself falling to Poland. A communique announces that the frontier guards have been reinforced because of Czechoslovakian military measures in the neighbourhood of the frontier, and the numbers of Czech Army deserters who are arriving. The “Committee for the Struggle for the Rights of Poles in Silesia and Teschen” has received a message of solidarity from the Hungarian Revisionist League. “Nothing will now prevent the return of the Polish minority in the Teschen district,” states a semiofficial Polish newspaper. The Polish Foreign Minister (Colonel Beck) received the German Ambassador (Herr von Mqltke) and instructions have been issued to the Polish ambassadors in London,Paris, Rome, and Berlin, to inform the respective governments of the Polish viewpoint of events in Czechoslovakia and the international situation resulting from them. * Troop Movements on Frontier The entire Polish press supports the demand that the area separated from Poland against the will of its inhabitants must\ be returned. It is reliably stated that Polish troop movements to the frontier in the last 24 hours are extensive. The Polish Ambassador and the Hungarian Minister to-day called at the British Foreign Office. It is understood that they are pressing for the secession of Czech territory containing 80,000 Poles and 800,000 Hungarians. Herr Hitler and the German Foreign. Minister (Herr von Ribbentrop) conferred with the Prime Minister of Hungary (Dr. Imredy) and the Foreign Minister (M. Kanya), who arrived at Berchtesgaden by air from Budapest, and left for home in the afternoon after having lunch with Herr Hitler.

On his return to" Budapest Dr. Imredy said he had discussed with Herr Hitler the whole Czech problem. “We must support the United Hungarian Party in Czechoslovakia in its endeavour to obtain complete self-determination,” he added. “Everything will be done to see that the Hungarian minority does not fare worse than the Sudetens.”

An official communique stated that the purpose of the visit was to examine the untenable position in Czechoslovakia. Herr Hitler reviewed the German problems of the Hungarians and dealt with the irrevocable claim of the Hungarians for the right of self-determination for their oppressed compatriots in Czechoslovakia. Herr Hitler also held a conference with the Polish Minister (M. Lipski).

SKIRMISHES ON FRONTIER

CZECHS AND SUDETENS WOUNDED

LONDON, September 20,

It is officially stated that Czech troops have occupied trenches at some points on the German frontier after four attacks by the Sudeten Volunteer Corps at night time.

Assailants attacked a Customs house at Neusorge, near Braunau. The defenders replied with hand grenades. Reinforcements arrived and the attackers withdrew. They resumed the assault an hour later, but were again expelled and carried off their casualties. Six Czech Customs officials and two soldiers were wounded.

The Volunteer Corps, with hand grenades and machine-guns, twice attacked and set fire to the Customs house at Oberkleinarpa, near Marchendorf, but the attackers were repulsed. Two Czechs were wounded.

Nine Sudeten deserters from the Czech army attacked and set fire to the frontier Customs house at Trautenau. They threw a hand grenade amonq the occupants, killing one Czech and taking another prisoner. They also captured a gendarme, who allegedly fired on refugees. Eighteen were sent to hospital after the attack.

The German News Agency reports that Sudeten deserters from the Czech army crossed the frontier to Germany at Kronstadt after an exchange of shots. Czechs fired on Sudeten fugitives after they had reached German territory •at Waldenburg.