SECESSION ISSUE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 March 1939, Page 5

SECESSION ISSUE

VOTE BY THE SLOVAK PARLIAMENT HITLER DESIRES IMMEDIATE DECISION. CZECHS ACCEPT GERMAN DEMANDS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. ' LONDON, March 14. Broadcasting from Bratislava today, M. Sidor, who was appointed Premier of Slovakia after the dismissal of Dr Tiso, announced that Parliament would vote today whether Slovakia shall secede or remain with Czechoslovakia. This announcement followed a conference between Herr Hitler and Dr Tiso who arrived in Berlin yesterday at the Fuehrer’s express invitation, accompanied by M. Karmasin, leader of the German minority in Slovakia. After the conference Dr Tiso telephoned M. Sidor from Herr Hitler’s Berlin study, declaring that it was the Fuehrer’s wish that the Slovak Parliament should decide the issue. He did not mind what the decision was provided it was taken without outside pressure. It was also Herr wish that the decision should be taken today. M. Sidor immediately contacted Dr Hacha, President of Czechoslovakia, and M. Sidor’s broadcast followed. Dr Hacha has agreed to an extraordinary session of the Slovak Parliament today for the purpose of taking the vote. In Czech circles it is stated that Czechoslovakia has accepted the German demands for Slovak independence and has agreed to the Cabinet at Prague being reconstructed with the omission of Generals Elias and Sirovy. The Bratislava correspondent of “The Times” says that, with the declaration of Slovakian independence, it is expected that the independence of Carpatho-Ukraine will also be proclaimed.

GERMAN TROOPS

SUDDEN CALLING UP OF RESERVES. OFFICIAL .EXPLANATION. LONDON. March 14. The 1913 class of reserves were called up suddenly today ..in Munich, and a number of troop trains left for Vienna. The Pro; paganda Ministry explains that the movements are in preparation

for a review in celebrations of the anniversary of Anschluss. The Bratislava correspondent of ‘•The Times” says that there are unconfirmed reports of a concentration at Energatt, opposite Bratislava, of German troops and Storm Troopers equipped with anti-tank guns and light artillery, and also three divisions of Czech troops near Bratislava. The Munich correspondent of “The Times” states that increased troop movements on the main highways, which have been noticeable in recent weeks, have been intensified in the last two or three days. Long columns or army lorries, filled with soldieis, have been proceeding to Salzburg, mainly at night time. Travellers in the vicinity of Leipzig, Breslau, Munich, and Salzburg claim that they' met large detachments of troops in active service dress, but that in the neighbourhood of Vienna, where concentrations were to be expected in the event of trouble, there was nothing that could not be explained by the preparations for a review in celebration of the Anschluss anniversary.