OUTLOOK RATHER BETTER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 September 1938, Page 5

OUTLOOK RATHER BETTER

THE CZECHOSLOVAKIAN CRISIS Lord Runciman and Herr Hitler Expected to Meet GERMANY NOT TAKING PRECIPITATE ACTION By Telegraph. —Press Association. —Copyright. LONDON, September 3. The next move rests with the president of Czechoslovakia, Dr Benes. That is a general summing up of the Czech position. The two conferences yesterday turned out better than was expected, says the Prague correspondent of “The Times.” A Prague communique states: “Dr Benes informed Lord Runciman that he had discussed the whole problem with the Sudetens from 10.30 a.m. unti 2.30 p.m. Negotiations are continuing on Monday. It seems a small but clear advance. All that can be said is that the gap, which a week ago seemed limitless, has now narrowed to measureable limits. The Czechs have allowed it to be understood that they have made large concessions, but it is suggested that they are sketchy and insufficiently defined to satisfy Sudeten aspirations.

Authoritative Czech opinion, says the Prague correspondent of the “Sunday Times,” believes that a meeting between Lord Runciman and Herr Hitler is inevitable in view of the growing international character of,the problem which the Czechs feel is beyond their control, especially as it is presumed that Herr Hitler assured Herr Henlein that Germany would support a demand for the realisation of the Carlsbad demands. The Berlin correspondent of the “Sunday Times” says it is believed that Germany assured Britain that she would take no precipitate action against the Czechs, although Herr Hitler suggested a time-limit for decision. Mr Hugh Wilson, American Ambassador, conferred with Sir Nevile Henderson regarding the situation. The Paris correspondent of the “Sunday Times” says it is understood that M. Litvinov reassured the French Charge d’Affaires at Moscow of Russia’s support with full resources if France is obliged to act in fulfilment of her obligation with the Czechs. A message from Warsaw states that Poland and Rumania are consulting regarding the transport of Russian planes and munitions to Czechoslovakia. Both Reuter and British United Press correspondents in Berlin report that the German War Ministry admits troop movements in the Kehl and Offenburg areas, but declares that

. they are due to manoeuvres, which ■ "have no special significance.” No cor- • responding movements occurred on the • French side of the frontier during the ; weekend and leave was not cancelled, i Herr von Ribbentrop returned to • Berlin instead of remaining at Berchl tesgaden. Newspapers emphasise that , Herr Henlein’s visit to Herr Hitler ! was purely routine. Herr Kundt has personally written to “The Times” denying a division in . the Sudeten ranks and declaring that ; 90 per cent of Sudetens stand behind > the Carlsbad programme. I ' LEAVE STOPPED i FRENCH FRONTIER GARRISONS I ON THE ALERT. L (Recd This Day, 9.50 a.m.) ; > LONDON, September 4. “The Times” Nancy correspondent : says all French frontier garrisons from Luxembourg to Switzerland, are con- ; fined to barracks, except officers and married ndh-commissioned officers, . who must not leave the towns. All men ; have been recalled from extended : leave. ) Nancy is the headquarters of the 20th ; Army Corps.