OFFICIAL VIEWS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 September 1938, Page 5

OFFICIAL VIEWS

SPECULATION DEPRECATED PENDING THE PUBLICATION OF DETAILS NO HALT IN HATE CAMPAIGN IN GERMANY (Recd This Day, 10.29 a.m.) RUGBY, September 19. Official quarters strongly deprecate speculation regarding “the policy to be adopted with a view to promoting a peaceful solution of the Czechoslovak problem," upon which last night’s official communique stated that Britain and France were in complete agreement. It is generally assumed in London that no authoritative information will be available at least until after Mr Chamberlain has seen Hitler again. Leading articles generally withhold detailed comment and ' emphasise the need for calm and restraint. The “Daily Telegraph” says a factor which is enormously strengthening the hand of statesmanship is the patient composure with which the public in Britain and France is bearing the strain of suspense. Disappointment, on tne other hand, is expressed that the Berchtesgaden meeting has not been followed by the suspension of provocative utterance by the German Press and radio, while tremendous issues- are being submitted to sober counsel. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr C. R Atlee) and Mr A. Greenwood visited Downing Street at Mr Chamberlain’s invitation. Sir A. Sinclair (Liberal Leader) also later was received by Mr Chamberlain. Other callers were the American Ambassador, Mr J. P. Kennedy, Signor Grandi (Italian Ambassador), and M Corbin (French Ambassador). OPINION IN PRAGUE NO CHANGE IN POLICY POSSIBLE “WE WILL FIGHT FIRST” (Recd This Day, 10.30 a.m.) PRAGUE, September 19. The Ministers’ Council has drawn up a draft reply to England and France. The Prague correspondent of the British United Press says a Government representative declared: “We have not changed our policy. We cannot cede territory or accept a plebiscite, which would mean the same thing. We will fight first.” Official circles express the opinion that the Czechs should fight while in possession of a strategic frontier along the mountain ranges. COMPLETE SURRENDER AN EMPHATIC AMERICAN STATEMENT MAKING RULE OF FORCE DOMINANT (Recd This Day, 10.20 a.m.) NEW YORK, September 19. The latest edition of the “New York? Times” states: “The terms on which the British and French Governments are reported to have agreed constitute so complete a surrender that liberal opinion everywhere will prefer to regard them as incredible until they are confirmed or explained in an official statement.” The paper adds: “It seems that there were and are other alternatives than capitulation to the threat of force so complete as to establish the rule of force henceforward as the dominant factor in international relations.” THE SWISS VIEW NEUTRALISATION PLAN APPROVED OPTIMISM IN LEAGUE CIRCLES (Recd This Day, 10.50 a.m.) GENEVA, September 19. The Swiss welcome the report of a neutralised and guaranteed Czechoslovakia which forms the keynote of the British and French plan and consider that the establishment of three neutralised States —Switzerland, Belgium and Czechoslovakia —would stabilise the European position and prevent an outbreak of war. It is felt in League circles that British statesmanship and French sacrifice have saved Europe from conflict. CONDITIONS IN VIENNA. CZECHS CALLED TO POLICE STATIONS. (Recd This Day, 9.40 a.m.) VIENNA, September 19. Czech residents in Vienna have been summoned to police stations and closely questioned, but there have been no further arrests. FOREIGNERS LEAVING (Recd This Day, 10.30 a.m.) BERLIN, September. 19. Foreigners continue to leave Germany in numbers, some having been residents for years. One Embassy has listed all its nationals to leave on a diplomatic train in the event of a crisis.