POLISH DEMANDS PRESSED

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22514, 23 September 1938, Page 13

POLISH DEMANDS PRESSED

Freedom of Action

Reserved

SOLIDARITY WITH HUNGARY Czech Frontier Troops Desert

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT.)

(Received September 22, 9.45 p.m.)

WARSAW, September 22

The Polish Foreign Office has issued a statement that the Government reserves full freedom of action in safeguarding Polish interests in Teschen. It says that Czechoslovakia has not fulfilled her promises regarding Teschen, and adds that it is deplorable that in the plan produced after the London talks in 1920 Poland's legitimate claims were not given consideration.

The Prague correspondent of the “Daily Mail” says it is reported that the Poles include in their claims a demand for Mahrisch Ostrau, although only 30 per cent, of its 125,000 inhabitants are Poles.

A message from Budapest says that a deputy, M. Bartseknyk, speaking at a torchlight demonstration, declared: “The hour has struck for righting Hungary’s wrongs. Hungarian patience has ended. . Thirty million Hungarians demand the return of 1,000,000 of their separated brethren.”

The gathering coined the slogan, “Down with Prague and Hodza! We want everything back!” It jeered at Britain and France and paid a tribute to Germany, Italy, and Poland as friendly nations. Sixty-two Slovak and Magyar troops, the entire garrison of a Czech frontier fort, entered Hungary and surrendered machine-guns and other equipment after disarming their officers and locking them in the abandoned fort.

Polish demands against the Czechs speedily reached a climax with the announcement that the Polish Minister at Prague had. handed the Czech, Foreign Minister (Dr. Krofta) a Note referring to the Czech Government’s declaration that the Polish population would not be discriminated against as compared with other nationals.

The Note added that Poland “expects the Czechs, to settle the question of .territories inhabited by Poles similarly to a settlement of the Sudeten question. Accordingly the Polish-Czech agreement of 1925 concerning the Polish minority is void,> and is. hereby renounced.” Troop Movements Simultaneously it was officially announced that because of troop movements, the railways in southern Poland have been closed to civilian traffic: A decision to retain reservists after the manoeuvres brings the army strength to 600,000. The Warsaw correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” states that the possibility of a Polish-Czech conflict is seriously Contemplated. Martial organisations are active throughout Poland. A “national unity camp” which has been officially organised, has issued a manifesto calling a huge assembly for to-mor-row, to declare that the Polish nation stands firm in defence of its brothers’ rights and the abolition of artificial frontiers. To-night’s demonstrations in Warsaw also emphasised Poland’s solidarity with Hungary. A crowd organised by youth organisations marched to the Hungarian Legation, shouting: “We want a common frontier with Hungary!” They attempted to approach the Czech Legation, but police in armoured cars prevented them from doing so. Anti-Czech Feeling Meanwhile Polish refugees from Czechbslovakia have sent a message to the Former Servicemen’s Association urging the organisation of a legion to liberate the Poles in Czechoslovakia. • Peasants in the neighbourhood o’f the Czech frontier passed a resolution demanding the use of force if the Czechs do not return Teschen. War veterans in Warsaw passed a similar resolution, and youth organisations affirmed their readiness to place themselves at the disposal of the army. The Warsaw, correspondent of the Exchange Telegraph Agency states that clashes between Poles and Czechs are reported from Teschen, which wealthy Czech merchants are leaving. A crowd demonstrated in front of the Czech Legation, shouting “Down - with the traitors!” and smashed the windows. If-is officially announced in Warsaw that the military class which was due to be released yesterday will now remain under the colours. Britain Notified The Press Association learns that the Polish and' Hungarian Governments have notified the British Government that they desire the rights of their minorities in Czechoslovakia to be considered in any settlement \vhich may follow the British and French proposals for a settlement of the Sudeten German problem.

The Warsaw newspapers state that the Polish demarches to Britain and France had the character of an ultimatum demanding the return of Teschen.

The Foreign Secretary (Lord Halifax) informed the Polish and Hungarian representatives that a note would be taken of their representations about minority rights. The “Daily Herald” says that the Polish Ambassador (Count Raczynski) handed the Foreign Secretary (Lord Halifax) a Note demanding an immediate settlement.

Such of the cable news In this Issue as Is so headed has appeared in “The “Times,” and is sent to this paper by special permission. It should be understood that the opinions are not those of "The Times” unless expressly stated to be so.