NAZI DEMANDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 January 1939, Page 7

NAZI DEMANDS

GRIP ON CZECHOSLOVAKIA TIGHTENED

FREEDOM FOR GERMAN TROOPS TO CROSS COUNTRY.

REDUCTION IN REPUBLIC’S ARMY.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright PRAGUE, January 28.

The far-reaching demands which Germany is making on Czechoslovakia were revealed by three official announcements today:

(1) The Czechoslovak Government has agreed to allow German troops to traverse Czech territory whenever Germany so desires and without previous permission. The agreement is reciprocal, but it ’is pointed out that it means nothing to Czechoslovakia but everything to Germany. (2) The present strength of the Czechoslovak army is to be considerably reduced. The number of officers will be halved.

(3) Czechoslovakia has agreed not to develop industries ' which would compete with Germany’s or build new factories to replace those handed over with the Sudetenland. . Previous to-this announcement, the Foreign Minister, Dr Chvalkovsky. after his interview with Herr Hitler in Berlin, informed a secret meeting of members of Parliament that the closest cultural and economic collaboration with Germany was inevitable. Failing this, Germany was in a position to use different methods against which there would not be an outside voice raised on the Czechs’ behalf. The Cabinet gave its sanction to Germans wearing the swastika publicly.