CRISIS DEEPENED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 September 1938, Page 8

CRISIS DEEPENED

SUDETEN GERMANS BREAK OFF NEGOTIATIONS Brutal Treatment of Members Alleged INCIDENTS IN MORAVIAN TOWN By Telegraph.—Press Association—Copyright. (Received This Day, 12.55 p.m.) PRAGUE, September 7. The Sudetens allege that deputies of a party of members were “brutally beaten with riding whips by police,” at Wahrisch Ostrau, a Northern Moravian industrial town which is predominately Czech, but with a population including 20,000 Germans. The Sudetens add that the deputies were roughly treated by the police and population. On the contrary, the “Daily Telegraph’s” Prague correspondent says officials believe that the Henleinists are deliberately provoking incidents to provide an excuse for evading discussion on the Czech Government’s proposals and perhaps to provoke even more serious international developments. The official version is that demonstrations began outside a prison in which were lodged smugglers of arms and those who had engaged in espionage. The demonstrators included three hundred Henleinists. Mounted and foot police intervened, but without drawing their truncheons. After this a Henleinist deputation protested to the Police Directorate, alleging brutality to the Henleinists. No action was taken against Czechs. An investigation of a charge by a deputy that he was brutally beaten, revealed that he caught the reins of a police horse, and when he endeavoured to turn its head was struck across the hand with a riding whip. There was no other violence. The Czech Premier, Dr Hodza, announced that an investigation would be made into the Mahrisch incidents and promised that the guilty would be punished and measures taken to prevent a recurrence. Reuter’s Prague correspondent says that after a conference with Dr Hodza the Henleinists agreed to reconsider their decision to break off negotiations. Reuter’s Berlin correspondent says those in German political circles declare that the new development has created a dangerous situation, showing that the Czech Government is too weak to cope with trouble-makers. The “Daily Telegraph” says that clearly the situation has taken 3 graver turn. Members of Cabinet are suspending their plans to leave London and awaiting a conference on September 8 (today) between Lord Halifax and Mr Chamberlain. COMMUNIQUE ISSUED. FORMAL ANNOUNCEMENT OF BREAK. (Received This Day, 12.15 p.m.) PRAGUE, September 7. The Sudeten Germans have issued the Tollowing communique:— (1) The party decided to continue negotiations with the Government with a view to the realisation of the' Carlsbad points. (2) Both internal discussions and negotiations have been broken off because of recent incidents showing that the Government insufficiently controls the situation to begin or conclude discussions in peace. After the communique had been issued negotiations were broken off, of which Viscount Runciman was informed by a delegation headed by the extremist, Herr Frank.