GERMAN MINORITIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 August 1938, Page 5

GERMAN MINORITIES

BIG ASSEMBLY AT BRESLAU ORATION BY HERR HENLEIN CLAIM LAID TO DOUBLE CITIZENSHIP By Telegraph—Press Association. Copyright. BERLIN, July 30. Herr Henlein, leader of the Sudeten Germans, in his first 'political speech in Germany delivered today at the national gymnastic festival at Breslau, which is being attended by 40,000 representatives of German minorities in Europe and America, acknowledged Hitler as the leader of all Germans inside and outside the Reich. He emphasised that this meeting of Germans from throughout the world had proved better than words that there again existed a great German nation. As Germans they took seriously their obligations to the State to which they belonged, said Henlein, but, while being the nationals of the various Powers, they remained German citizens and voluntarily accepted the German nation’s laws. A message from Prague states that Herr Kundt, leader in Parliament, of the Sudeten group, addressed a number of questions to Dr Hodza, Premier of Czechoslovakia, asking whether the Government still stands upon the principles laid down in the Nationality Statute, whether the draft Bill is definitive, and when the final text of all the Government’s proposals, together with a written reply to the Sudeten memorandum of June 6, will be submitted. He also asked if the Government intended to continue their conversations with the Sudeten Germans or to consider that Lord Runciman’s mission superseded them. PARADE BEFORE HITLER FUEHRER TURNS HIS BACK ON CZECH FLAG. GERMANS FROM MANY LANDS. (Recd This Day, 10.5 a.m.) BRESLAU, July 31. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Breslau correspondent says that, seeing the approach of a Czechoslovakian flag, borne by three Sudetens, during a procession of 200,000 athletes, Herr Hitler turned his back and talked with his entourage until the flag had passed. The Czech Government granted special permission to a Sudeten German delegation <of 40,000 to attend the sports fete. The procession ended in an amazing scene, the marchers breaking their ranks and surging round Herr Hitler’s dais. Herr Henlein looked on, apparently uncertain whether to be annoyed at the delegation’s lack of discipline or pleased over its enthusiasm. German delegations attended from all parts of the world, including exGerman South-West Africa, the United States, Memel, Poland, Rumania and South America. Herr Hitler shook hands with every South-West African and every United States delegate.