READY AT NEED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 August 1938, Page 7

READY AT NEED

CZECHS AND THE GERMAN MANOEUVRES ♦ PRESENT MOBILISATION NOT NECESSARY POSSIBILITY OF QUICK ACTION By Telegraph —Press Association. Copyright. PRAGUE, August 17. The Czechoslovak Supreme Council of National Defence decided today to adopt an attitude of “impassive preparedness” toward the German manoeuvres.' The councill decided against any mobilisation. The Minister of Defence, M. F. Machnik, pointed out that, while the last Czech mobilisation on May 21 was carried out in less than 24 hours, the next one could be completed in eight hours. Therefore, any immediate call to the colours was unnecessary.

MINORITIES STATUTE HENLEIN PARTY REJECTS. PROPOSALS. LORD RUNCIMAN ASKED TO INTERVENE. (Recd This Day, 9.10 a.m.) PRAGUE, Aug. 17. The Henlein Party has decided to reject the Government’s proposals. Members of the executive committee of the party contend that the Government's proposals do not constitute a basis for further negotiations. The decision was reached after a lengthy examination of the Minorities Statute. Herr Kundt discussed the critical situation which has arisen for four hours with Viscount Runciman. It is understood that he requested Lord Runciman to intervene and mediate immediately, bluntly adding that negotiations were no further advanced than they. were three months ago. The executive, however, has agreed to continue to meet the Government a few times more in order to give Lord Runciman a chance to start active mediation before there is a formal breakdown of negotiations. SUGGESTED MEETING HITLER AND RUNCIMAN LONDON, July 17. The “News-Chronicle’s” Berlin correspondent reports that a meeting between Herr Hitler and Lord Runciman will most probably take place in the next few days. The Nazi Ministry of Propaganda has denied that Hitler suggested the meeting, but it is known that Lord Runciman’s wish to meet the Fuehrer was conveyed to Berlin by private messenger. Hitler, it is felt, would like to meet Lord Runciman,, but the latter would have to lake the initiative. Berlin believes that Hitler will soon convince Lord Runciman that German claims to Czechoslovakia are justified..