RHINE FRONTIER ASTIR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 September 1938, Page 7

RHINE FRONTIER ASTIR

EXTRAORDINARY ACTIVITY NOTED EVERYWHERE German Road and Rail Services Congested J CONSTANT STREAM OF TROOPS AND EQUIPMENT MILITARY LEAVE CANCELLED IN FRANCE By* Telegraph.—Press Association— Copyright, LONDON, September 7. During a tour of German fortifications ffom the Saar to Basel (Switzerland), the Strasbourg correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph noted extraordinary activity everywhere. All regular railway services, except long-distance ones, are disrupted. Troops and equipment are pouring in ceaselessly. An official at Stuttgart station declared that he had not seen sue preparations since the war. Surprisingly no attempt is being made at secrecy. All stations are crammed with war materials. Lorries bearing cases marked Krupp (the famous German munition factory) are congesting almost every country road. The military authorities have commandeered whole villages. Riding along the hills behind Freiburg, the correspondent found two large aerodromes cut from the forest with camouflaged holes providing entrances to underground hangars. The Rhineland reinforcements mostly consist of artillery and air force pilots. The Paris correspondent of “The Times” says that all leave in France has been cancelled. All troops in Marseilles and naval ratings at Toulon have been recalled. All French Ambassadors and Ministers at present on furlough have been instructed to return to their posts immediately.

OFFER TO CZECHS THE LEADING PROPOSALS LOAN & OTHER ASSISTANCE FOR SUDETENS. VARIOUS CONCESSIONS. LONDON, September 7.’ Reuter’s Prague correspondent says that additional points in the new Czech proposals are: — (1) Recognition of the principles of proportional employment of officials according to population, “both in new appointments and those at present employed.” . (2) Employment of officials in ais tricts of their own nationality. (3) Local regions to have police of their own nationality. (4) The promulgation of a new linguistic law, giving language equality. (5) Assistance to be given to the distressed Sudeten districts, including a .£5,000,006 loan. (6) Equality of national status on the basis of national autonomy under the cantonal system. (7) Special sections to be set up in the central administrations under nationals, who would deal with matters affecting their own nationality. (8) National rights of citizens to be' protected by anti-denationalisation laws, special registers being established by each nationality. (9) Immediate action to reach an agreement on points not requiring legislation. Where legislation is' required it will be prepared in collaboration with the Sudetens. SUDETEN COMMUNIQUE. EXAMINATION OF PROPOSALS. (Recd This Day, 9.30 a.m.) PRAGUE, September 7. A Sudeten communique states: “After necessary clarifications have been obtained Sudeten representatives will examine the proposals and submit them to the competent Sudeten authorities. There is no truth in the report that the British mission submitted special proposals.” It is believed that Herr Kundt is en route to Nuremberg with the Czech plan. OPINION IN LONDON BASIS FOR NEGOTIATION PROVIDED. APPROVAL OF SECESSION DENIED. (British Official Wireless.) (Recd This Day, 10.5 a.m.) RUGBY, September 7.. An abstract of the new pro..posals which was handed in Pra- * gue by the Czech Premier, Dr Hodza, to Herr Kundt, is in the possession of the Foreign Office and as far as an examination of this summary enables a judgment to be formed, the view in British official circles is that the proposals represent a basis upon which it is hoped that negotiations will be continued. It is appreciated in London, however, that the situation remains uncertain and very delicate until it become clear that Herr Henlein’s party has accepted the new basis. It is stated officially in London that a suggestion appearing in “The Times,” to the effect that Czechoslovakia might consider, as alternative to its present proposals, the secession of a fringe of the alien populations in its territory, in no way represents the views of his Majesty’s Government.

NO BRIDGE YET FRENCH VIEW OF HITLER’S OMISSION. SOME SNEERING IN ROME. LONDON, September 7. French opinion regards Hitler’s failure to mention Czechoslovakia in his Nuremberg proclamation as showing that the bridge to settlement has not yet been built. Rome fully approves the proclamation and sneers at France’s precautionary measures. SERIOUS CHECK SUDETENS HOLDING BACK. INCIDENTS INVOLVING DEATH OF MEMBER. (Recd This Day, 11.15 a.m.) PRAGUE, September 7. The Sudetens have suspended their study of the Czech proposals as a result of incidents involving the death of a prominent member of the Sudeten Party. GERMAN VIEW PLAN NOT ACCEPTABLE AS IT STANDS THE ATTITUDE OF RUSSIA LONDON, September 7. Reuter’s Nuremberg correspondent says that German circles reveal that the new Czech plan does not provide for Sudeten control of the police and post offices in their territory. Further, the Czechs are only prepared to withdraw Czech officials from the Sudeten areas gradually over a number of years. Therefore, the plan is unacceptable as it stands. Reuter's Prague correspondent says that it is expected that Herr Kundt, Herr Henlein’s deputy, will see Dr Hodza, the Czech Premier, today to arrange the date for the resumption of the negotiations. It is generally believed that the Sudetens will accept the plan as a basis for negotiation. None of the details of the plan has been published locally. It is thought that the negotiations will be laborious. 'The fixing of the Sudeten Party congress for October 15 is regarded as a warning not to expect a settlement before then. The Riga correspondent of the “Times” reports that no responsible Soviet official has yet made a statement concerning the Czech crisis, but the Soviet Press declares that Czechoslovakia can count on the full support of Russia. Nothing is yet known of the annual Russian ( manoeuvres, which usually begin at the end of August. They have been either cancelled, postponed, or are proceeding secretly. The “purge” of officers has ceased since the reorganisation of the frontier districts has begun. VON RIBBENTROP ENTERTAINS. SIR N. HENDERSON PRESENT. (Recd This Day, 10.10 a.m.) NUREMBERG, September 7. The British Ambassador to Germany, Sir Nevile Henderson, arrived' here and attended Herr von Ribbentrop’s lunch to foreign diplomats.