PARTIES IN MEMEL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 December 1938, Page 5

PARTIES IN MEMEL

GERMANS OPENLY DEFINE NAZI AIMS

VOTE FOR UNION WITH REICH. RIGHT OF SELF-DETERMINATION ASSERTED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, December 12. The population of Memel went to the polls yesterday to elect a new autonomous Diet for three years. The candidates represent one German party and four Lithuanian parties. In the last Diet the Germans held 24 seats and the Lithuanians 5. The result of the election is not likely to be known for a week, because of the complicated procedure, but the Germans already claim tb have won 26 out of 129 seats. There was a record poll, 96 per cent of the population voting.

The campaign is notable for the fact that a section of the Germans for the first time have definitely adopted the label Nazi and for the first time have been permitted to circulate election propaganda. Yesterday the streets were patrolled by the uniformed and topbooted guards of Dr Neumann, a 50-year-old veterinary surgeon, who is adopting a role similar to that of Herr Henlein in Czechoslovakia. Germans are going to the poll today with instructions to “vote for union with the Reich.” The Memel correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says that Dr Neumann, in an interview, fully confirmed the “back to the Reich” intentions of his party. He added that the Memel Germans were so far disciplined, but it was doubtful whether he would be able to control his younger and more hotheaded followers after the election. Asked how a return of Memel to Germany was compatible with Herr Hitler’s declaration that he had no further territorial claims in Europe, he declared that the Memellanders, like the Austrians' and Sudetens, could not be deterred from exercising their right of self-determination. During a demonstration last night students shouted anti-Semitic slogans. Thirty arrests were made, and the Government issued a protective decree applicable ’ to Kaunas and the surrounding districts. STATE OF EMERGENCY FREQUENT CLASHES IN MEMEL. TWO LITHUANIANS KILLED. LONDON, December 12. The Memel correspondent of the “Daily Mail” says that the Government created a state of emergency yesterday evening by issuing a decree during the elections tantamount to martial law. t The measure was directed against the opposition after the discovery of an alleged plot by the National Democrats to overthrow the President. Many were arrested, including several prominent citizens.

The Memel | correspondent of the “Daily Herald” says that frequent clashes took place between Nazis and Lithuanian Socialists. Sixteen storm troops were admited to hospital and two Lithuanians were shot dead.

The Memel correspondent of “The Times” reports that, anticipating a return of the territory to the Reich, the local Jewish community is preparing to leave. Hundreds have already migrated in recent weeks and the remainder are arranging their businesses in readiness to depart at the shortest notice. BRITISH ATTITUDE STATEMENT BY PREMIER IN COMMONS. GERMANY ASKED TO USE INFLUENCE. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.55 a.m.) RUGBY, December 12. The Prime Minister (Mr Neville Chamberlain) in a statement in the House .of Commons regarding the situation in Lithuania and Memel, said: — “There is reason to think that after the elections for the Memel Diet, which took place yesterday, demands may be made on the Lithuanian Government by a majority of the parties in the Diet which would not be consistent with the Statute of Memel.

His Majesty’s Government, as a signatory to the Memel Convention, cannot ignore this possibility, and in view of the special influence which the German Government is in a position to exert in these matters, the British Charge D'Affaires in Berlin has been instructed to join with the French Ambassador in expressing the hope that the German Government will use its influence to ensure respect for the statute.