GERMAN DEMANDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 March 1939, Page 7

GERMAN DEMANDS

THREAT OF MILITARY ACTION

STATEMENT IN COMMONS

NO APPROACH TO BRITAIN. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, March 22. Sir Samuel Hoare. in the House of Commons, made the following statement on behalf of Mr Chamberlain: “I understand that M. Urbsys (Lithuanian Foreign Minister), while in Berlin recently, received a demand from Germany for the immediate cession of Memelland to the Reich, coupled with a threat that in the event of resistance or any application for support elsewhere. the matter would be no longer dealt with diplomatically but in a military sense. This demand amounted to an ultimatum and Lithuania was required to make a decision on it within approximately four days but Lithuania was assured that if it were accepted, no further demands would be made of Lithuania. I also understand that the demand has now been accepted, though I have not been so informed officially by Lithuania, who made no approach to Britain since the demand was presented.”

Sir Samuel Hoare added that the Premier would make a fuller statement as soon as possible. Meanwhile, he declined to answer a supplementary question regarding the position of Britain as a signatory to the Memel Convention. Consultations which were proceeding between the British and other Governments were mentioned by Sir Samuel Hoare, who made it clear that all possibilities were being considered.

Sir Samuel Hoare also answered questions on trade negotiations with Rumania. He said Rumania officially denied receiving any ultimatum from Germany. At the same time, the uncertainty of the present situation was causing Rumania to take certain precautionary measures. The German mission had returned to Berlin.

Further information was given by Mr R. A. Butler (Parliamentary Undersecretary of State for Foreign A<airs) who said Rumania was aware thaf Britain wished the exports of petroleum products from Rumania to the United Kingdom to be maintained and that was one of the questions which it was hoped would be discussed between the British commercial mission and the Rumanian authorities. In another answer, Mr Butler announced that the British Government had decided that for the time being, the position of the Czechoslovak charge d’affaires in London and the diplomatic members of liis staff and the Czech consular officials in the country should remain unchanged.