WIDE AUTONOMY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 October 1938, Page 7

WIDE AUTONOMY

DEMANDED BV SLOVAKS TROUBLES OF THE CZECHS NOT OVER. HUNGARY ALSO PRESSING CLAIMS. By Telegrapn—Press Association. Copyright. LONDON. October 4. The Slovaks are reported to have issued a strong ultimatum to the Government demanding a wide degree of autonomy and threatening to secede unless the demands are granted within 24 hours. The Hungarians are also said to be claiming a line from Bratislava to Kosico and Uzhorod, which covers much greater territory than could be achieved by a plebiscite. This would mean the complete cutting off of Czechoslovakia from the Danube. HUNDREDS OF SUICIDES. The Prague correspondent of the “News Chronicle” says that a large section of the population is overcome with a sense of complete hopelessness. Hundreds of families in the Sudetenland are reported to have committed suicide. Fathers have killed their children and the husbands and wives have shot each other rather than live under the Nazis. Many suicides occur daily at Prague among the refugees. It is realised that the new Czechoslovakia cannot afford to harbour German refugees, thus giving Herr Hitler a possible excuse to broach the agreed ■frontiers.

Many hundreds of Czech citizens returned their French decorations during the last few days, says the same correspondent. \ Meanwhile, the newspapers are becoming philosophical. The “Ceske Slovo” expressed the opinion that the Sudetenland recently, under the heavy economic burden, suffered so badly from industrial depression that it was necessary to grant tariff protection, remit taxation, and make other sacrifices The “Venkov” says: “Don’t think that the new State will be small and weak. We are building a homeland for 11,000.000 Czechs and Slovaks, and our zest for working and living will be redoubled.” The Czech Government is now in process of reconstruction. AN IMPERATIVE NOTE. BUDAPEST, October 4. An official announcement says that the Hungarian Minister in Prague has delivered a Note requesting that the minority negotiations begin in the next few days and that the demands be carried out' quickly and smoothly.

HUGE LOSSES CZECHOSLOVAKIA LOSES HER BEST INDUSTRIES. HALF NATIONAL INCOME GONE. LONDON, October 4. The “Daily Telegraph’s” diplomatic correspondent understands that the £10,000,000 loan to Czechoslovakia was required to fortify her national currency against immediate collapse. He adds that Prague, is inquiring elsewhere with a view to raising further sums. It is estimated that not less than £70.000.000 will be needed to cover the cost of reconstruction in view of the tremendous material losses. Experts estimate that an even larger sum will be needed to place the new Czechoslovakia on a sound basis after the cession of all her minority territories. It is not contempleted in Prague that the British loan will be sufficient even for the needs of the refugees, who are pouring in. Those from Austria and Germany are estimated to number 70,000. The total number of refugees is estimated to be 800.000. It is clear that provision must be made for at least half a million, the bulk of whom left their homes with only their clothes. The “News Chronicle’s” financial editor says that £10,000,000 will not go far. The new frontier, which extends for hundreds of miles, must be provid' ed with Customs houses, frontier posts and defences. Even the whole £30,000,000 requested would not compensate for the economic injuries suffered as a result of the partition. Czechoslovakia has been deprived of her most developed mineral resources, except minor coal and lignite deposits, all her best industries, including glass and, porcelain and most of her important textiles. Even the industries retained are mostly cut off from raw materials. The transport system will require laygescale reorganisation. New ports will be needed on the Danube and the Elbe. Czechoslovakia will probably lose one-quarter of her population and onefifth of her area, but the proportion of the national income she will lose will be higher, it is competently estimated, by at least half.

TASK GIVEN UP RESIGNATION OF CZECH CABINET REPORTERD FROM PRAGUE (Received This Day, 9.20 a.m.) LONDON, October 4. A message from Prague states that the Czech Government resigned tonight. REVULSION OF FEELING TALK OF ACCOMMODATION WITH GERMANY LONDON, October 4. The Prague correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says that it is generally felt that Czechoslovakia has been left with no possibility of a really independent existence, and that it is therefore not surprising that many are beginning to feel that the only course is to seek accommodation with Germany. Bitterness against Britain and France, but especially against France, is so great that many leading politicians already seem eager to do so. A Czech military official said that the Germans were showing an unexpectedly conciliatory spirit regarding Czech arms and ammunition in the <occupied areas. “The Germans are doing their utmost to ensure that the Czech army’s fighting powers remain unimpaired,” he said. “Perhaps they think

that the Czech army may one day be useful to them in helping to liberate the German minorities in Poland and elsewhere.” Throughout the Czech Press there is evidence of this complete revulsion ol feeling. It is no longer Germany, but Britain and France who are held responsible for the country’s ruin. CITY RETAINED IMPORTANT ARMAMENT CENTRE (Received This Day, 9.20 a.m.) PRAGUE, October 4. The future of Brno, the second largest industrial city of Czechoslovakia, and a big armament centre, which, under the Godesberg plan would have been subject to a plebiscite now has been cleared up by an official statement that it will be retained untouched, neither ceded nor made subject to a plebiscite. URGENT NEEDS TEN MILLION LOAN ONLY A BEGINNING (Received This Day, 9.55 a.m.) LONDON, October 4. The Australian Associated Press says the Chief Economic Adviser at the Czech Legation stated that the £lO,000,000 British Loan, while it is most acceptable, would not do more than maintain the Czech foreign exchange balance for the next few weeks. He states that further assistance was imperative if insolvency was to be avoided. DEMAND EXTENDED POLAND SEEKING MORE TERRITORY. BARRIER AGAINST BOLSHEVISM. (Received This Day. 9.20 a.m.) WARSAW, October 4. Official circles point out that Poland is not satisfied with only the Teschen area. She also'requires a common frontier with Hungary, by the cession of part of the Ruthenian Province, in Eastern Czechoslovakia. It is understood that Dr Beck is insisting on this, to enable Poland and Hungary to create a barricade against Bolshevism. This would reduce Czech-* cslovakia to Moravia, Slovakia and what is left of Bohemia.