Evening star., 1938-05-23
TALKANNOUNCED
BY CHAMBERLAIN
Premier, Before Commons
Tells of Arrangement
for Peace Move.
BACKGROUND

lions. Csechs also increased armed
forces 10 half million by calling re-
serpes. Troops reinforced border
and mere stationed through Sude-
ten German areas, Where disorders
have occ,sred recently.
~ the Associated Press.
LONDON, May 23-Prime Minister
Chamberlain told the House OF Com
mons today that Czechoslovakia's IS
premier and the leader Of her Nazified
Germanic minority would meet tonight
or tomorrow in an effort to settle the
dispute which has brought Europe
dangerously near the brink Of war.
~The prime minister spoke before it
was reported from Praha that Konrad
Henlein and Premier HodZa had al
ready begun talking about settlement
of Czechoslovakias internal dihiculties
Smiling and affable, the prime min
lister acknowledged cheers which
greeted his announcement that con-
ference had been arranged between
Premier Milan Hodza and Konrad
Henlein leader of the Sudeten Ger
mans over whom Germany's Adolf
Hitler has declared himself protector.
Mr.. Chamberlain, markedly recov-
cred from his recent gout attack, gave
the House a brief but carefully worded
resume of the situation.
He said Britain, France, Germany
and Czechoslovakia, as we'll as Herr
Henlein, all had agreed to expedite
peGceful negotiations calculated to end
dangerous friction between the Praha
government and Nazis on both sides
Of the German-Czech border.
Halifax in House of Lords.
Viscount Halifax, foreign secretary,
repeated Chamberlain's statement in
an attentive House of Lords When
ne finished there was no comment or
questioning from either government
or opposition benches.
"At the moment the situation seems
to have eased somewhat Mr.. Cham-
berlain asserted.
Although he did not say so, it was
presumed the British government had
been instrumental in bringing the
antagonists together after the Sudeten
German party had refused to enter
into negotiations offered by the
Czechoslovak government.
Mr.. Chamberlain merely said on
this point that "the principal concern
of his majestys government has been
to use all their influence" to bring
about peaceful negotiations. He
continued:
"The government have represented
70 the Czechoslovakian government
the need for taking every precaution
for the avoidance of incidents and OF
making every possible effort to reach
a comprehensive and lasting settle
ment with representatives OF the
Sudeten party.
I'm this his majestys government
enjoyed the full cooperation OF the
French government.
The Czechoslovakian government
responded to this representation with
the assurance that they appreciated
the interest which his majesty's gov
eminent manifested in this question
and are resolved to seek an early
complete solution
Cooperation Asked.
Mr. Chamberlain went on:
THE British government represent
ed to the German government the
urgent importance of reaching set
tlement If European peace is to be pre-
served and have expressed their
earnest desire that the German gov
eminent should cooperate with them
in facilitating an agreement.
His majesty's government at the
same time informed the German gov
ernment of the advice rendered in
Praha and of the assurances received
from the Czechoslovakian government.
The German minister of foreign
affairs said he welcomed the efforts
being made by his majestys govern
ment, and that the German govern
ment fully shared their desire to see
the negotiations succeed"
Clement R. Attlee, leader of the
Labor opposition, who had conferred
with Mr.. Chamberlain earlier in the
day, said he would not press the prime
minister for further statement "in
view of the tension in the world to-
day"
Jan Masaryk, Czechoslovak Minister
to Britain, followed the prime min
ister's speech from a choice position
in the diplomats gallery along with
Charles Corbin, French Ambassador.
DR.. Herbert Won Drcksen, German
Ambassador, was not there.
Mr.. Chamberlain and Viscount Hall
fax, foreign secretary, went over the
Whole critical European situation at
No. 10 Downing street with Mr..
Attlee and Sir Archibald Sinclair,
respectively, Labor and Liberal leaders
in the House of Commons, and Lord
Smell and the Marques of Crewe,
holding similar positions in the House
OF Lords.
when some vital decision or policy re-
uuiring counsel from all parliamentary
elements is under consideration.
New Step Indicated.
There we're indications Britain
might be considering some new step
which would go beyond the present
vigorous diplomatic approaches to both
Berlin and Praha. One suggestion
was that an international commits
sion fix responsibility for German
Czech border incidents.
The British government held an al
most unprecedented full Sunday cabi-
net session. Premier Chamberlain
broke his weekend holiday and saw
the German Ambassador in an ap.