CONFERENCE IN RHINELAND LIKELY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 September 1938, Page 5

CONFERENCE IN RHINELAND LIKELY

Following on Berchtesgaden Talks TENSION AGAIN ACUTE IN SUDETEN AREAS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright A Four-Power Conference to be held in Western Germany is likely, according to reports received last night, to be the most important outcome of the conversations at Berchtesgaden between the British Prime Minister (Mr Neville Chamberlain) and Herr Hitler. The London “Daily Mail” says that it is believed that Mr Chamberlain, on his return to London, will review with Ministers a plan for such a conference between Britain, France, Italy and Germany to discuss the Czech issue and the general problem of European appeasement. Other London papers allude to the possibility and say that the conference is likely to be held near Cologne (in the Rhineland) for general convenience. The town of Godesberg is mentioned as a possible venue. The “Daily Mail” says that M. Daladier, Premier of France, and probably also M. Bonnet, Foreign Minister, are coming to London at the weekend to meet Mr Chamberlain and discuss developments. It is stated that there are no indications whatever that Herr Hitler or Signor Mussolini will come to London. Meanwhile tension has again become acute in the Sudeten areas and armed- troops are parading the streets at Eger. The general strike, which has been declared by the Sudetens, is reported to be spreading over the district and paralysing business. The Czechs have declared martial law in five more provinces. Reuter’s learned from a Czech official source in London yesterday that no warrant had been issued for Herr Henlein’s arrest. Herr Henlein is stated to be still at Asche, near the German frontier. It had previously been reported by the Prague correspondent of the Exchange Telegraph Company that the Czech Government had ordered the district prosecutor’s office at Eger to institute proceedings against Herr Henlein and to issue a warrant for his arrest. The Prague correspondent of the British United Press also reported that it was officially announced that the Czech Government had decided to put the question whether Herr Henlein’s proclamation constitutes high treason to a commission of legal experts.

HUNGARIAN DEMANDS. RIGHT OF SELF-DETERMINATION WANTED. BUDAPEST, September 16. The Hungarian Treaty Revision League telegraphed to Mr Chamberlain at Berchtesgaden urging the right of selfdetermination for Hungarians in Czech territory. FRENCH POLICY M. FLANDIN’S PROPOSAL. SUGGESTED ADJUSTMENT. PARIS, September 16. M. Flandin, former French Premier, and spokesman of the Opposition, proposed today a reduction of France’s commitments in Central and East Europe provided that Germany respects the territorial integrity of the States in those regions, thus lifting all barriers to German political and economic expansion and shifting the emphasis of French foreign policy from Europe to the colonies.