APPEASING CZECHS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20023, 23 August 1939, Page 13

APPEASING CZECHS

NAZI POLICY CHANGED

PURGE OF OFFICIALS

PRAGUE, Aug. 12. The arrest of a number of prominent Sudeten officials, including HenBrass,' who is an associate of Herr Frank 1 , the deputv-regional governor of the Sudetenland, indicates a radical change in German policy toward the Czechs. Grave charges, are being prepared. The purge is the outcome of differences between the Sudeten Germans and the Reich Germans regarding the best method of appeasing the Czechs.

The Reich Germans are aware that German prestige is being damaged by uncompromising hostility of the Sudeten Germans to the Czechs-—an attitude which is causing the reluctance of the Czechs to co-operate. The Reich Germans are anxious to pursue a- more cautious policy of “protection.” lit is reported that 10 important Reich officials will replace Sudeten

Germans 1 in the office of the Protector of Bohemia-Moravia, Baron von Neurath.

Meanwhile the Czech National Unity Party’s influence is steadily growing. The party is now demanding a firmer attitude toward ftlhe uumans.

The Prague Government lias been asked to insist that municipal elections in towns where there is a German minority at present Bhould be “controlled,” and that there should be a continuance of measures against Czech Fascists and 1 Czech National Socialists. In furtherance of the Germanisation of certain areas, all Czech farmers at Nemilancy, a village near [lemeutz, have been sent to prison on unspecified charges and have been advised to sell their farms to Germans.