MEMEL ANNEXED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 March 1939, Page 7

MEMEL ANNEXED

FOLLOWING GERMAN ULTIMATUM TO LITHUANIA Nazi Troops Occupying Territory SELF-DETERMINATION GIVEN AS BASIS OF DEMANDS By Telegraph.—Press Association. —Copyright. LONDON, March 22. It is officially announced in Kaunas (capital of Lithuania) that the Lithuanian Government has surrendered Memel to Germany following an ultimatum delivered yesterday by the German Foreign Minister, Herr von Ribbentrop, To the Lithuanian Foreign Minister, M. Urbzys. A communique issued in Kaunas states that Herr von Ribbentrop, in the name of Germany, told M. Urbzys that Germany demanded the incorporation of Memel in the Reich, adding that, if the annexation was peaceable, Germany would give generous consideration to Lithuanian economic interests. German troops are stated to have begun to occupy the territory. It is understood that they will march triumphanty into the city when the actual occupation occurs. Reuter’s Kaunas Correspondent says it is understood that the German Note declared that the present situation in Memel might lead to unrest, necessitating the intervention of German troops. Life between Germans and non-Germans in Memel had become impossible, the Note added. It gave the principle of self-determination as the basis of the German demands. The Lithuanian Government declared that the decision was reached in the interests of peace, adding that Lithuania would not make further concessions. The decision will be confirmed by Parliament because Germany demanded that any action taken be in accordance with legal procedure. A German-Lithuanian committee is settling conditions under which Lithuania will use the port of Memel. Jews and Lithuanians arc fleeing the city in panic.