DEMANDS IN DETAIL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 September 1938, Page 5

DEMANDS IN DETAIL

WITHDRAWAL OF POLICE INSISTED ON IN AREAS OF GERMAN POPULATION. REJECTION OF ULTIMATUM ANTICIPATED. (Recd This Day, 10.59 a.m.) PRAGUE, September 13. A Sudeten communique states that Herr Henlein’s eight points no longer provide a basis for negotiations. The situation has gone too far and the Sudetens will be satisfied with nothing less than a plebiscite. A later communique states that the Government had pledged itself to discussion with the Sudeten leaders before important steps were taken. Although the leaders were in Prague in the morning, they were not consulted about martial law. There have been numerous incidents. Sudetens have been assaulted and killed and grave tension prevails. As representative of Herr Henlein, Herr Frank addressed the following demand to the Czech Premier (Dr Hodza): “It is established that a large number of Sudetens have been killed or wounded by State organisations or Czech frontiersmen. Therefore the Sudetens are unable to negotiate freely and unrestrictedly with the Government unless — (1) The martial law proclamation is withdrawn immediately. (2) The State police are withdrawn from districts with a majority of German population, in which the municipal officials will be responsible for maintaining order. (3) The gendarmerie and other special Government services to be reduced to normal numbers and confined to their normal duties. (4) All military formations to be confined to barracks and kept removed from the civilian population. The document adds that if the demands are not accepted within six hours, the leaders decline responsibility for future developments. . Reuter’s Prague correspondent says that after a meeting of the Czech Cabinet, Dr Hodza replied to the Sudeten ultimatum. It is understood that the demands were not accepted, but the door was not closed to negotiations.

Dr Hodza later had a conference with the British and French Ministers. The British United Press Prague correspondent learns officially that the Czechs have decided to ignore the ultimatum. A spokesman declared that it was impossible for the Government to consider an ultimatum from a political party.

REACTIONS IN EUROPE MOST SERIOUS VIEW TAKEN IN HUNGARY. (Recd This Day, 10.59 a.m.) BUDAPEST, September, 13. Hungary considers the situation most serious. The newspapers declare that everything must be done at the last minute to avoid war. ITALIAN OPINION. OPPORTUNITY FOR SECESSION URGED. (Recd This Day, 10.59 a.m.) ROME, September 13.

An official statement published in “Diplomatic Information,” and understood to have been written by Signor Mussolini himself, says the path of justice an.d peace is to give the Sudetens an opportunity for secession. A refusal means war and disorder.

RUMANIA PREPARING. (Recd This Day, 10.59 a.m.) SOFIA, September 13. Though neutrality is expressed officially, men between twenty and fifty year of age have been ordered by the military authorities to register for Army manoeuvres, ending on September 18.