MINORITY RIGHTS

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20501, 18 May 1938, Page 7

MINORITY RIGHTS

ATTITUDE OF BRITAIN QUESTIONS IN THE COMMONS DESIRE FOR A SETTLEMENT (Official Wireless) RUGBY, May 16 Questions addressed in the House of Commons to the Prime Minister, on the subject of the representations made by the British Minister In Prague, Mr Basil Cochrane-Newton, on the Sudeten German problem, were answered by the Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mr R. A. Butler, as Mr Chamberlain was confined to his room in Downing Street by a slight attack of gout. Mr Butler said the British Government representative in Prague had conversations with the Czechoslovakia President of the Council, Dr. Milan Hodza, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Dr. Krofta, about this question. The British Government had not suggested to the Czech Government any particular measure or concessions, but urged the desirability—with which the Czech Government was in full agreement—of doing everything in its power to further an agreed settlement of the problem. No Particular Measures ‘Matters have not yet reached a stage when I can usefully make a further statement,” Mr Butler added. Asked by Mr Arthur Henderson Labour—Kingswinford): “Will the Government give no support to any concession which will destroy' the effective defence of Czechoslovakia?” Mr Butler replied: “I have stated that we have not suggested to the Czechoslovakian Government any particular measure of concession.” He declined to add to this statement when a Conservative back-bencher asked whether the British Government would resist the claims of the minorities in Czechoslovakia to dictate to the Czech Government the l nature of its foreign policy'. Heavy Moral Responsibility Mr Butler also returned no reply to Sir Archibald Sinclair, ihe Opposition Liberal leader, when the latter asked: ' Does the Government realise that in making these representations at Prague it is assuming a heavy moral responsibility?” Mr Butler, in answer to another question, said the Sudeten leader, Herr Henlcln, on bis recent visit to London, had not been received by any member of the Government.. The report of a meeting between Mr Malcolm MacDonald, Dominion Secretary, and Herr Tlenlein. was without foundation, nor did he visit the Foreign Office. He had met Sir Robert Yansittart. Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, with whom he was already acquainted. on a purely private occasion.

IMMEDIATE NEGOTIATIONS REQUEST TO HERR HENLEIN INVITATION BY GOVERNMENT (Official Wireless) (Received May 18, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, May 17 It is learned in London that the Czechoslovakian Government has invited Herr Jlcnlein to enter into negotiations at the earliest moment, with a view io a settlement. ADVICE OF FRANCE AS CONCILIATORY AS POSSIBLE AVOID “ NATIONAL SUICIDE ” United Press Assn.—Elec. Te!. copyright LONDON, May 17 The French Minister of Foreign Affairs, M. Bonnet, receiving Dr. Stefan Osusky. the Czech Minister to France, declared that France's advice to Czechoslovakia was. to be as conciliatory as possible to Hie Sudeten Germans, but not to make concessions amounting to ” national suicide,” says the Paris correspondent of the Daily Telegraph.