EUROPEAN UNREST

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 August 1938, Page 5

EUROPEAN UNREST

DECLARATION BY BRITAIN EXPECTED ASSURANCE TO FRANCE SUPPORT AGAINST GERMAN AGGRESSION By Telegraph—Press Association. Copyright. LONDON, August 25. An important conference took place today between the Prime Minister, Mr Chamberlain, the Foreign Secretary, Lord Halifax, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir John Simon, and the Chief Diplomatic Adviser to the Government, Sir Robert Vansittart. According to the “Daily Mail’s” political correspondent, a decision was reached' at this conference as a result of which the British Government will make a fresh declaration of its attitude toward the Czech situation in the next few days. The declaration will take the form of an unmistakable assurance to France that Britain will support her should she become Involved in any conflict as a result of fulfilling her treaty obligations to the Czechs. Diplomatic correspondents here, while all admitting the importance of the conference, variously interpret the weight that may be attached to the conflicting views as to the seriousness of the situation in Central Europe.

The diplomatic correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says that it is recognised in London, as elsewhere, that the situation calls for vigilance, and adds that Mr Ashton Watkin, Lord Runciman’s adviser on his mission to Prague, who returned to London today, had an informal conference with Lord Halifax.

The diplomatic correspondent of the “News Chronicle” says that trouble has been predicted on several occasions, but the rumour was never more precise than at present There was not the slightest doubt that well-informed people in Germany and elsewhere fear a very grave incident after the Nazi Party rally at Nuremberg early in September. It is believed that a plan is being prepared to make the Czechs appear responsible. The diplomatic correspondent of the “Daily Mail” says that members of the British Government have felt that the time is rapidly approaching when something must be done to arrest the rapidly-growing tension in Central Europe, and that how this can best be done is understood to have been discussed.

The diplomatic correspondent of the “Manchester Guardian” says that Czechoslovakia rather than Spain is the chief preoccupation of the authorities in France and Britain. Signs of impatience in Berlin at the delay in the drafting of a satisfactory minorities statute are evident.

Germany does not wish to appear to be an aggressor, but it is believed both in Paris and in Prague that any violence in the Sudetenland would be interpreted as aggression and would be followed by armed intervention by Germany.

RUNCIMAN MISSION NOT WITHOUT~APPRECIABLE EFFECT. PEACEFUL SOLUTION POSSIBLE. (British Official Wireless.), (Recd This Day, 10.2 aflm.) RUGBY, August 25. . Mr Ashton Watkin, one of Lord Runciman’s advisers, gave Lord Halifax and Sir John Simon an account of Lord Runciman’s work in Prague. By its very nature,, Lord Runciman’s mission of conciliation was bound to take longer to show results that if he had been called in to act as an arbitrator, or had been engaged merely in preparing a report for submission in any particular quarter. Nevertheless, Press reports from Prague have shown that the mission, even in its present stage, has not been without appreciable effect. It is understood that the impression which the two Ministers gained from Mr Watkin is that an agreed and peaceful solution is not beyond reach of wise statesmanship if that quality is forthcoming from both sides, and from all parties concerned. Britain has made it very clear that in its view such a settlement is essential, not only in the interests of Czechoslovakia and those of the Sudetens, but. to safeguard European peace. During recent weeks the dangers inherent in the present situation have become an increasing cause for preoccupation in London, where it is hoped that the critical juncture at which it stands will be seen by both sides to impose responsibility for making the necessary contribution to agreement. Lord Halifax has returned to Yorkshire and Mr Watkin returns to Prague at the end of the week.