DANZIG DEADLOCK

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20021, 21 August 1939, Page 5

DANZIG DEADLOCK

SLOVAKIA QUIET GERMAN GARRISONS TROOPS LINING FRONTIER CZECH PRESS RESTRICTIONS PRESSURE ON RUMANIA (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Aug. 21, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 20. The week-end situation does not favour optimism.

The Foreign Secretary, Viscount Halifax, has returned to London in order to prepare a report for next week’s meeting of Cabinet Ministers.

The tripartite talks have been resumed in Moscow.

The Polish Commissioner, M. Chodacki, the President of the Danzig Senate, Ilerr Greiser, and the League Commissioner, Dr. Burckhardt, discussed the status of Danzig on which a deadlock is reported. Italy increasingly favours a fourPower conference on this subject, but Germany and Poland are not interested.

All is quiet in Slovakia. The Prime Minister, Dr. Tiso is spending the week-end in the country. The Bratislava wireless station denies announcing that Germany has taken over military possession of the country and attributes the story to oppositionist propaganda. Nazi Command of Slovaks The Slovak Minister to Warsaw declares that the area garrisoned by Germans has not been extended. Other sources hint that mere are negotiations for German command of the Slovak troops.

The Bratislava correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain reported yesterday that German troops were flung out at least 100 miles along the Polish-Slovakian frontier, a far greater distance 'than was fixed when Germany guaranteed Slovakia's independence by treaty last March.

Tens of thousands of troops have been observed in the vicinity of Zilina where the townsfolk are preparing to flee from their homes at a moment’s notice. Others are moving up the mountainous regions to the north-east, which is described straget'ically as Poland’s back door. Control in Couuntry Areas

The German military staff has assumed complete control of the country areas, although Bratislava, in the meantime, is ostensibly remaining under Slovak authority.

General Csatloa resigned last week after refusing the German suggestion that he should send two Slovak divisions to the Polish frontier. The National Council persuaded him to retain his command which is now worthless.

The Germans overnight closed down two Czech and all Jewish newspapers in Slovakia.

A Berlin report says it is officially stated that German military activity in Slovakia is limited to the presence of a military mission in Bratislava and the occupation of the zone agreed upon in March. The sole official comment on the occupation is. e velopments are following the couise mapped out when Slovakia arranged for and received German protection. Officials declined to define the word “course.”

Sequel to Treaty

The (broadcast announcement from Bratislava that Germany was taking military possession of Slovakia, 'as reported on (Friday night toy the Associated Pre'ss of Great Britain, is the logical sequel to the signing of the German-'Slovakian treaty. The reference, “owing to the existing situation, applies to the rapid deterioration ol German and Polish relations and Slovakia’s strategic position ibetween Poland’s southern frontier and Hungary’s northern frontier. The text of the agreement 'has not been disclosed, 'but it is stated to refer to the delimitation of military zones which the German forces are to occupy. The treaty implements the German-Slovak agreement, which was signed after the annexation of Bohemia and Mbravia, under which Germany was authorised to ibuild and man garrisons and 'forts which extend from Germany’s eastern Siegfried Line into Slovakia as far as the River _ War the. Germany is permitted to install a military mission at Bratislava to supervise activities.

Heavy Concentrations

Heavy concentrations of German troops have been established throughout Slovakia for some time. The announcement merely ratifies then presence.'

The diplomatic correspondent of The Times makes three deductions from the announcement: 'First, that Hungaiy has lost her last hope of taking over Slovakia (by agreement with Germany; secondly, (Germany is able to have troops on Hungary’s northern frontier and exert greater pressure on Budapest; thirdly, Germany has automatically strengthened and deepened hei south-eastern flank in the event of wai against Poland toy fortifications on Slovakia’s northern frontiers.

A Warsaw message says a Polish spokesman said: “We have long known Slovakia would ibe a military :base foi operation's against Poland. We provided for this contingency. Germany s move is open proof of her intention, to encircle 'Poland.”

The Bratislava correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says that the gradual mobilisation of the Slovakian army (began, to-day under the direction of the German General Staff. Two divisions which General Csatloa refused and also 300,000 reservists were, despatched to the Polish frontier as “necessary for the nrotection. of the country. ’ The official Polish news agency in Warsaw emphatically denies German atrocity reports and describes the versions of mass arrests, evictions- and persecutions as pure fantasy designed to- stir up German opinion- against Poland;