POSITION STILL CRITICAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 May 1938, Page 8

POSITION STILL CRITICAL

MESSAGES TO DOMINION PREMIERS

Britain Attempting Mediation I REPORTED WARNING TO GERMANY x By Telegraph—Press Association. —Copyright. (Recd This Day, 12.25 p.m.) LONDON, May 22. The Australian Associated Press says the genera! situation tonight, although somewhat quieter, is still regarded as extremely critical. A confused series of Ministerial and diplomatic meetings culminated in an emergency meeting of the full Cabinet at 5 p.m., for which Mr Chamberlain returned from the country. Lord Stanley likewise hastened to Downing Street for his first task in. his new office as Dominions Secretary, afterwards sending lengthy dispa’tches to the Dominion Premiers. It is believed these indicate that Britain is further attempting the role of mediator, submitting a peace plan to Prague and Berlin in which she is using all her influence with the Czech Government to avoid further incidents, simultaneously pressing the Czech Premier (Dr Hodza) to negotiate with Herr Henlein as quickly as possible, and also urging Herr Hitler to exercise patience and moderate his newspapers.

It is understood that Lord Halifax informed Herr Dirchsen (German Ambassador), while Sir Neville Henderson simultaneously told Herr von Ribbentrop, that if the French honour their obligation to Czechoslovakia, Britain will stand by France. This clearly constitutes a strong warning to Germany and is a significant move at such a vital juncture, apparently indicating Britain’s readiness to intervene to the utmost. Britain's consultations with France .and Germany continue. Mr Chamberlain hopes that it may be possible for Britain to act as a peacemaker by being trusted by both sides, but it is felt useless at this moment to attempt to attribute motives or apportion blame. Though the most critical moment may have been yesterday when two Sudeten Germans were shot, the fact that this crisis has passed without a general upheaval suggests that if further incidents do not occur, worse trouble may still be avoided. Nevertheless it is realised that it is impossible to fix precisely the truth of happenings, especially in. connection with the many denials and cross-currents regarding troop movements. Britain hopes, in conjunction with France, to attempt mediation by a scheme of independent observers in Czechoslovakia, but it is thought that in view of troop movements the situation has developed too far and is too delicate to get the parties to arbitrate. AUSTRALIA INFORMED. STEADY STREAM OF MESSAGES FROM BRITAIN. (Recd This Day, 11.10 a.m.) CANBERRA, This Day. A steady stream of confidential messages from Britain' relating to the new developments in Central Europe poured into Canberra at the weekend. The Commonwealth Government is being kept fully informed of developments.