ISSUES DEFINED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 August 1938, Page 5

ISSUES DEFINED

NATIONALITIES PROBLEM IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA GERMAN AND OTHER VIEWS LIMITS ON PERMISSIBLE CONCESSIONS LONDON, August 5. The Berlin correspondent of “The Times” says that German diplomatic opinion attributes greater significance to the investigatory rather than the mediatory aspect of Lord Runciman’s task. It is suggested that his findings might provide a basis for an international conference to secure concessions to the Sudeten Germans. In any case, reports of the distribution of positions and responsibilities between the Sudeten Germans and the Czechs would be regarded as valuable if Germany were forced to proceed to a solution without international sanction. The Rome correspondent of . “The Times” says the “Osservatore Romano” considers that the mission, even if it fails, will show in the clearest fashion on which side responsibility for the failure rests. As everyone must think well before accepting such a catastrophic responsibility, the chances are that the parties will end by reaching an agreement. The “Manchester Guardian’s” diplomatic correspondent says it is now generally recognised that Lord Runciman’s mission has effectively demonstrated Britain’s interest in preserving Czechoslovakian independence. The Czechs are not expected to make concessions threatening their existence. If Germany presses for such concessions she will not longer be regarded as seeking the betterment of the Sudeten Germans, but as resolved to reduce Czechoslovakian to vassalage. This neither the Czechs nor the Western Powers will tolerate.