MEMEL ELECTION

Evening Star, Issue 22147, 30 September 1935, Page 9

MEMEL ELECTION

LITHUANIA’S ASSURANCES BRITISH OFFICIAL TO BE PRESENT (British Official Wireless.) Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright RUGBY, September 27. At the invitation of the Lithuanian Government Mr T. H. Preston, British Charge d’Affaires at Kovno, will be present during the week-end at Memel and will watch proceedings in connection with the election of the Diet on Sunday. The Lithuanian Government has given explicit assurances to the guarantor Powers—Britain, France, and Italy—that tho election will be held in strict accordance with the terms of the Statute and that the attention of the German Government has been drawn to these assurances. GERMANY DOUBTFUL LONDON, September 28. • Tho Berlin correspondent of ‘ The Times ’ says that the British, French., and Italian Ambassadors informed Baron Von Neurath (German Foreign Minister) of the Lithuanian promise and also expressed the hope that Germany would avoid everything that might increase the tension. Nevertheless, this has not made the slightest impression on the Germans, who have already publicly discounted the step. It is understood that Baron Von Neurath declared that the representations to the Lithuanians were wholly inadequate, as the Lithuanians were trusting to the of the signatory Powers to take effective action. They were merely giving glib assurances and were not improving the treatment of Ger-man-speaking Memel residents. ARRANGEMENTS INADEQUATE MEMEL, September 29. (Received September 30, at 10.10 a.m.) With the exception of an incident at Proklus, where rival bill posters exchanged shots, four being injured, the elections are proceeding without incident, though everywhere the inadequacy of the polling arrangements, coupled with the intricacy of the ballot papers,, is sure to prevent the poll ending before eight o’clock to-night. Unbroken queues are waiting everywhere to enter the booths.