POLISH DEMANDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 October 1938, Page 6

POLISH DEMANDS

CONCEDED BY CZECHS UNDER PROTEST IMPORTANT MINING AREA GIVEN UP OCUPATION IN TEN DAYS By Telegraph —Press Association. Copyright. LONDON, October 2. The conditions in a Polish Note to Prague, semi-officially stated to demand first the token occupation of Teschen and the Silesian territory by noon on October 2 by the cession of Czech troops and authorities from the remainder of Teschen and Silesian territory by October 10, have been accepted by the Czech Government under protest. It has agreed to the token cession of the Teschen territory.

. An official announcement from Warsaw states that Poland, after the occupation of Teschen, will make no further claims on Czechoslovakia, and will guarantee the new frontier. The occupation of the Polish areas will be completed within 10 days. Questions concerning the delimitation of the frontier plebiscites and other details will be settled by agreement with Czechoslovakia. A crowd which assembled in Pilsudski demonstrated its joy when loudspeakers announced Czechoslovakia’s submission. General Bortnowski has been appointed military governor of Poland's new territory. The population of the Polish sector of Teschen celebrated at noon when it was confirmed that the dispute had been peacably settled. A crowd gathered at the Customs barrier and waved to Polish friends on the Czech side of the river which forms the frontier. Finally they tore down the red and white striped Customs barrier and paraded the town with it. FRONTIER POSTS TORN UP Frontier posts were also torn up and carried in procession through the streets and deposited in the municipal museum.

The Czech General Hrabczyk arrived in Teschen to prepare with the Poles the technical details of the occupation. The area ceded to Poland is nearly 500 square miles, with a population of 295,000. This includes the towns of Teschen, Karwin and Trinec, together with coal miles which are producing a millions tons yearly. It is understood that before the settlement representatives of the French, British and German Governments, in a joint demarche urged Poland to agree to a pacific solution. Ominous rumbling of a possible conflict were echoing from Poland yesterday morning. Reuter’s. Warsaw correspondent says Cabinet met at 10 a.m. Marshal Smigly Rydz, commander-in-chief of the army attended.

An official communique declares that Polish territory was under heavy fire at Godow on the night of September 28. A further Polish Note reached Prague at 10 p.m. demanding fulfilment in a clear and precise manner of Poland’s just claims regarding Teschen. An official broadcast last night stated: “The hour is approaching when Polish troops will free the Poles in Czechoslovakia with fixed bayonets. Twice this week negotiations, with Prague have been broken off and resumed. The Sudetens receive their freedom tomorrow, therefore the Poles must have theirs at the same time.” It is now announced from Warsaw that the Foreign Office finds the Czech answer to the Polish demands satisfactory. Poland will occupy Teschen and Frysztad, beginning with Teschen on October 2, and a plebiscite will be held later in the Trinec district. COUNSELS OF MODERATION

President Roosevelt, Mr Chamberlain and King Carol telegraphed President Moscicki urging circumspection, and the British Ambassador in Warsaw called on the Foreign Minister, Colonel Beck. It is assumed the purpose of the visit was to urge moderation and destraint. The newspapers state that calls for the same purpose were made by the French, American, and German Ambassadors in Warsaw. A Tokio cable states that Japan informed the Polish Government that it fully supported the demands. “Despite the fact that Japan is so far away we fully sympathise with the Polish steps,” the message said. The Polish Foreign Office issued the following statement: “Poland is determined to settle the conflict with Czechoslovakia independently. The Czech answer to the Polish Note is being handed over in Warsaw tonight. Should the answer not agree to the immediate cession of the disputed territory, Poland in the course of the evening will resort to measures which may have the most far-reaching consequences. The responsibility will be Prague’s.” TROOPS MARCH IN. (Received This Day, 10.20. a.m.) TESCHEN, October 2. Polish troops marched in in force at 2 p.m. The streets were beflagged with the Polish colours and were lined with cheering crowds.

“LAST CLAIM” POLISH TROOPS OCCUPY CEDED AREAS. (Received This Day, 12.40 p.m.) WARSAW, October 2. Territory to a depth of ten miles has been occupied in the Teschen district in Silesia by Polish troops. Additional areas in Teschen and Frysztat are to be annexed on October. 10. Plebiscites are to be held in other doubtful areas.. The papers emphasise that this is Poland’s last claim.