THE CRISIS IN EUROPE

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20505, 23 May 1938, Page 7

THE CRISIS IN EUROPE

THE ATTITUDE OF BRITAIN NO DESIRE TO TAKE SIDES IN DISPUTE TENSION BETWEEN GERMANY AND CZECHOSLOVAKIA (Official Wireless) (Received May 23, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, May 22 The Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have kept in the closest touch with the situation of tension between Germany and Czechoslovakia which was aroused at the end of last week. Official circles in London do not conceal the view that the situation has been as critical as it certainly is confused, but information reaching Whitehall during the past twentyfour hours points to a welcome detente. Mr Neville Chamberlain and Viscount Halifax met members of the Cabinet at Downing Street, putting them in possession of the latest reports available from the British representatives in the European capitals concerned. In those capitals wherever it can usefully be exerted the British Government’s influence will continue to be used in the interests of appeasement. In this the Government unquestionably has the strong support of public opinion, which has no desire to take sides and is unimpressed by the rival campaigns of assertion and counter-assertion, although it is deeply conscious of dangers which might arise from any incident unless and until calm is restored.

In the British view the earliest opening of negotiations between the Government in Prague and Herr Henlein’s followers is the best way both of settling the incidents for which it is quite unprofitable to seek to apportion the blame and obviating their recurrence.

In the grave situation which exists any tendency on either side to magnify the alleged incidents or provocation would find no sympathy either with the British public or in official circles here.