Evening star., 1938-09-29
M Text Of Prime Ministers Account Of Effort to Avert W.

that the gap between these two pro-
posals was too wide to permit Of ne.
gotiations between the parties on thai
basis.
New Proposals Induced.
In his capacity ~ mediator he VA,
successful in preventing, the Sudeten
German party from closing the door
to further negotiations, and he VA
largely instrumental in inducing Dr.
Benes, President Of Czechoslovakia, to
new proposals on the twenty.first OF
August which appear to have been
regarded by Sudeten party leaders as
suitable basis for the continuance
Of negotiations. Prospects for the
negotiations being carried to q sue
cessful conclusion were, however.
handicapped by recurrence of Incl
dents in Czechoslovakia involving
casualties both on the Czech and
Sudeten German sides.
On the first or second Of Septem-
Der Herr Henlein went to Berchtes-
gaden to consult Herr Hitler on the
situation. He was the bearer of q
message from Lord Runciman to Herr
Hitler expressing the hope that he
would give his approval and support
to the continuance of negotiations
going on in France. No direct reply
was communicated to Lord Runciman
by Herr Henlein, but the latter re-
turned convinced of Herr Hitler's de-
sire for a peaceful solution.
1t was after he returned that the
Sudeten Germans leaders insisted on
the complete satisfaction Of the eight
Carlsbad points in any solution that
might be reached.
The House will see that during Au-
gust. Lord Runcimans efforts had
been directed with a considerable de-
gree Of success towards bringing the
Sudetens and Czechoslovakians closer
together. In the meantime, however,
developments in Germany itself had
been causing considerable anxiety to
his majesty's government.
Regret Is Expressed.
On July %, the secretary of foreign
affairs had written a personal letter
to the German minister of foreign
affairs. Herr Won Ribbentrop. express
ing his regret the latter's statement to
Sir Neville Henderson, our Ambassador
in Berlin. that the German govern
ment must reserve its attitude towards
Lord Runciman's mission, regarding
the matter as one of purely British
concern.
The Secretary of State had ex-
pressed the hope the German govern
ment would collaborate with his maj
esty's government in facilitating a
peaceful solution of the Sudeten ques-
ton and so prepare the way to estab-
fishing relations on basis of mutual
confidence and cooperation. Early
in August we received reports of mill
tary preparations in Germany on an
extensive scale
They included the calling up Of Re-
servists, service for the second year
of recruits beyond the beginning of
October. when they would ordinarily
have been released: the conscription
of labor for the completion Of Ger
man Notifications on her western
frontiers, and measures which en-
powered the military authorities to
conscript civilian goods and services.
These measures. which involved a
widespread dislocation of civilian life,
could not fail to be regarded abroad as
equivalent to partial mobilization and
they suggested the German govern
ment was determined to find a settle
ment of the Sudeten question by au-
tumn.
A Threatening Gesture.
In these circumstances, his ma jesty's
Ambassador to Berlin was instructed
by the middle of August to point out
to the German government that these
abnormal measures could not fail to be
interpreted abroad as q threatening
gesture towards Czechoslovakia. They
must, therefore, increase the feeling
of tension throughout Europe and they
might compel the Czechoslovak govern
ment to take precautionary measures
on their side.
An almost certain consequence would
W. W uCoeAoy OLA tlAd llIC VI SuC(CSSAul
mediation by Lord Runciman's mis-
sion. perhaps endanger the peace of
every one of the great powers of
Europe.
This, the Ambassador said, might
also destroy the prospects for the re-
sumption of the Anglo-German con-
versat tions. In these circumstances it
was hoped that the German govern
ment might be able to modify their
military measures in order to avoid
these dangers.
To these representations Herr Won
Ribbentrop replied in a letter in
which he refused to discuss military
measures and referred to the ex-
pressed opinion that the British efforts
in Prague had only served to in
crease Czech intransigeance.
In the face of this attitude his ma.