OPINION IN AMERICA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 September 1938, Page 5

OPINION IN AMERICA

POSSIBILITY OF SETTLEMENT SEEN FEARS FOR CZECHOSLOVAKIA. PRESIDENT & MR HULLCONFER. WASHINGTON, September 16. President Roosevelt arrived back today and immediately went into conference with Mr Cordell Hull, Secretary of State, in order to learn the details of . the European crisis. The President received Mi’ Hull in his private railway train, where he talked for 10 minutes. It was understood that President Roosevelt’s cancellation of his Press conference was due to the belief that the situation was so grave that he could not take the chance of the possibility of his utterances being misunderstood. The President has called a meeting of the Cabinet for tomorrow in order to lay before them all the information available. American marine insurance companies have cancelled all war risk clauses and general policies, to be effective within 48 hours. This action followed Lloyds similar cancellation. All war risk coverage will henceforth be written in separate policies at increased rates. The “New York Times,” in a leader today, says: “The news of Mr Chamberlain’s return and the prospect of further consultations with Herr Hitler are a pretty sure indication that some basis of settlement has been discussed, but what of Czechoslovakia? “Other nations may be willing to sacrifice the Czechs for the sake of peace, but will the Czechs prove willing to sacrifice their own existence for the peace of other nations? That question must underline all other questions asked and answered at the Hitler-Cham-berlain talks.” The “New York Herald Tribune” says: “It is remarkable how a sudden calm could be instilled by a three-hour conversation between two men. The issues remain insoluble as ever, but the idea that they are a valid cause for world war seems suddenly fantastically unreal.” THE SLOVAKS REPORTED OVERTURE TO : PRESIDENT. OFFER TO CO-OPERATE IN COALITION. (Recd This Day, 9.50 a.m.) PRAGUE, September 16. President Benes has received a delegation from the Slovak Party. It is reported that they have broken away from the Sudetens and have offered conditionally to co-operate with the Government in a coalition. REFUGEES IN GERMANY. (Recd This Day, 9.50 a.m.) BERLIN, September 16. Refugees now number 15,000. ACTION IN AUSTRIA. NUMBER OF CZECHS ARRESTED. (Recd This Day, 9.50 a.m.) VIENNA. September 16. Fifteen influential Czechs have been arrested, including the editor of a Czech newspaper and the secretary of the Czech Traders’ Association. Four of them were released after the Con-sul-General’s intervention.