NATIONALITY STATUTE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 July 1938, Page 8

NATIONALITY STATUTE

CZECH GOVERNMENT’S PROPOSALS ELECTORAL AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS ALLOCATION OF PUBLIC FUNDS By Telegraph—Press Association. Copyright. (Recd This Day, 10.5 a.m.) PRAGUE, July 27. The Chechoslovakian nationality statute provided that there will be no discrimination on the ground of language, race or religion. A citizen’s nationality is to be determined by the person’s mother tongue, but after the age of eighteen, the citizen can freely choose any nationality whose language he or she speaks fluently. Elections for Parliament and local councils will be carried out on the basis of the proportion of nationalities. Civil servants are to be chosen from the various races in accordance with the percentage of population, which will also determine the allocation of public funds and State contracts. Schools will be granted full self-de-termination. ■ Penalties, including denationalisation, are provided for the persecution of citizens on account of race, religion, or political opinion. NAZI. OPINION -LORD RUNCIMAN WELCOMED BERLIN, July 27. The German Press as a whole, welcomes Lord Runciman with enthusiasm as being likely to assist Henlein. Field-Marshal Goering’s newspaper, “National Zeitung,” says that Mr Chamberlain undoubtedly wishes to stake his whole personal influence and the British Empire prestige on finding a solution of the Czech question. The British attitude in this matter will determine whether his far-reach-ing intentions (general Europeon appeasement) will be fulfilled, continues the paper. Dr Goebbel’s newspaper, “Der Angriff,” says that Lord Runciman may count on Germany’s good wishes, but that the Czechs “are obdurate and untrustworthy people in negotiations and it is possible that far stronger pressure may be needed to compel the Prague Government to make the concessions which have now become inevitable.” SUDETEN SATISFACTION PRAGUE, July 27.; The Sudeten Party welcomes Lord Runciman and promises, him detailed, information concerning its aims with a view to arriving at a satisfactory solution.