BLOW TO HUNGARY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 August 1939, Page 5

BLOW TO HUNGARY

GERMANY’S AGREEMENT WITH SLOVAKIA DETAILS NOT DISCLOSED. EXTENDED MILITARY ACTIVITIES. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, August 20. Today the Bratislava wireless station denied announcing that Germany has taken over military possession of Slovakia, and attributes the story to oppositionist propaganda. The Slovak Minister to Warsaw declares that an unextended area is garrisoned by the Germans. Other sources hint that there are negotiations for the German command of the Slovak troops. All is quiet in Slovakia. The Prime Minister. Dr Tiso, is spending the weekend in the country. The spokesman in Warsaw today said: “We have long known that Slovakia would be a military base for operations against Poland. We have provided for this contingency. Germany's move is open proof of her intention to encircle Poland.” It was officially stated in Berlin that the German activity in Slovakia is limited to the presence of a military mission in Bratislava and the occupation of the zone agreed upon in March. The sole official comment on the occupation is: "The developments are following the course mapped out when Slovakia arranged and received German protection.” Officials declined to define the word "course.” TROOP MOVEMENTS. The Bratislava correspondent of the British Association Press yesterday reported that German troops are flung along at least 100 miles of the PolishSlovakian frontier, a tar greater distance than that fixed when Germany guaranteed Slovakia's independence by treaty last March.

Tens of thousands of troops have been observed in the vicinity of Zilina, where the townsfolk are preparing to flee from their homes at a moment's notice.

Other troops are moving up the mountainous regions in the north-east, which are described strategically as Poland's back door. The German military staff has assumed complete control of the country areas, although Bratislava in the meantime is ostensibly remaining under Slovak authority.

The Slovak military leader, General Csatloa. resigned last week after refusing a German suggestion that he send two Slovak divisions to the Polish frontier. The National Council persuaded him to retain his command, which is now worthless. 'fhe Germans last night closed down two Czech and all Jewish newspapers in Slovakia. It was felt in London that the broadcast announcement from Bratislava that Germany is taking military possession of Slovakia, as reported by the British Associated Press is a logical

sequel to the signing of the German Slovakian treaty. The reference in the announcement to "owing to the existing situation" applies to the rapid deterioration of the German-Polish relations and to Slovakia’s strategic position between Poland's southern frontier and Hungary’s northern frontier. AREAS OF OCCUPATION. The text of the agreement is not disclosed, but it is stated to refer to a delimitation of the military zones that the German forces are to occupy. The treaty implements the German-Slovak agreement signed after the annexation of Bohemia and Moravia, under which Germany was authorised to build and man the garrisons and torts which extend from Germany's eastern Siegfried Line into Slovakia as far as the River Warthe. Germany is permitted to instal a military mission in Bratislava to supervise the activities and heavy concentrations of German troops established through Slovakia for some time. The announcement merely ratifies their presence. "The Times’ ” diplomatic correspondent makes three deductions from the announcement: — (1) That Hungary has lost the last hope of taking over Slovakia by agreement with Germany. (2) That Germany is able to have troops on Hungary’s northern frontier and exert greater pressure on Budapest. (3) That Germany has automatically strengthened and deepened her southern-eastern flank in the event of war against Poland by fortifications on Slovakia's northern frontiers. SLOVAK ARMY GRADUAL MOBILISATION BEGUN. TROOPS FOR POLISH FRONTIER. (Received This Day, 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, August 20. The Bratislava correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says a gradual mobilisation of the Slovakian army began today, under the direction of the German general staff. Two divisions which General Csatloa refused and also 300,000 reservists have been despatched to the Polish frontier as “a necessary protection of the country.” HUNGARY’S POSITION DESIRE FOR NEUTRALITY. FRIENDSHIP WITH POLAND. LONDON. August 19. In a statement in Budapest today the Parliamentarian M Tibor Eckhardt emphasised Hungary’s desire for neutrality. The Qua! d'Orsay, a message from Paris reports, has received an assurance that the visits made in Europe by the Hungarian Foreign Minister, Count Czaky have not affected the Pol-ish-Hungarian friendship. It was officially stated in Berlin yesterday (hat Count Czaky did not see Herr Hitler on his visit to Germany. A message from Budapest says that when Count Czaky was interviewed in Salzburg he said: "I went to Germany purely as a private individual, and did not conduct negotiations with anyone. Fantastic conjectures in the foreign Press do not surprise me. They ought to invent something new." ARMS CREDITS ’ GUARANTEES AND TREATIES. LONDON. August 19. It is officially stated in Warsaw that France has granted to Poland a credit of £2.400.000 for the purchase of arms and munitions. In connection with the visit to London of Dr Kulski, the legal adviser of the Polish Foreign. Office, and his call at the Foreign Office with the Polish Ambassador. Count Raczynski, it is understood that satisfactory progress is being made with the drafting of the treaty formally embodying the BritishPolish guarantees, a British Official Wireless message reports. The same, incidentally, applies to the treaty with Turkey. No urgency attaches to the sigature of the treaty between the two governments, since the essential guarantee was so clearly expressed in the declaration made by the Prime Minister, Mr Chamberlain, in the House of Commons this spring. DIPLOMATIC ACTIVITY LONDON. August 19. There was evidence of considerable diplomatic activity in Paris, Berlin, and Rome'yesterday. J In Berlin the British Ambassador. I Sir Neville Henderson, called at the I Wilhelmstrasse and saw Herr Weizacker. 1 The British Ambassador in Rome,

Sir Percy Lorraine, who saw the Foreign Minister, Count Ciano, on Thursday, was reported to bo seeing him again last evening. In Vatican City the Pope today re-’ ceived the Polish Ambassador to the Holy See, and it is understood that Danzig was discussed. : EMPHATIC DENIAL OF GERMAN ATROCITY STORIES. OFFICIAL STATEMENT IN POLAND. WARSAW, August 20. The official Polish news agency emphatically denies the German atrocity reports and describes the charges of mass arrests, evictions, and persecutions as pure fantasy designed to stir up German opinion against Poland. ADVICE TO POLAND BY SIGNOR MUSSOLINI’S MOUTHPIECE. PREDICTIONS OF ULTIMATUM BY HITLER. (Independent Cable Service.) (Received This Day, 9.30 a.m.) ROME, August 20. Signor Virgino Gayda, in the “Giornale d’ltalia.” says: "Poland , has only a few more days to reflect. Does she want to bang the door on a reasonable solution or to be overwhelmed in an adventure which threatens her independence? Her real friends should counsel her to turn from England and France and try, at the eleventh hour, directly to make contact with Ger-ma-ny. It is evident that the present tension cannot last longer than a few days.” Other newspapers predict that Herr Hitler, either at Tannenberg or Nuremberg, will issue an ultimatum to Poland to come to terms or fight.