Evening star., 1938-10-23
HUNGARY AWAITS
NEW CZECH OFFER
Fifth Proposal Reported
Handed to Minister
in Prague.
By the Associated Press.

CZechoSlovakla.
A foreign Office spokesman said the
Prague government had handed note
to the Hungarian minister in Prague
at noon today, and it was expected
here tonight.
This official maintained the contents
OF the new offer were unknown, but,
according to diplomatic reports from
the Czechoslovakian capital, the pro-
posal might be far from satisfactory
to Hungary.
Prague's fourth proposal reached
here only yesterday. Hungarians de-
scribed it as inadequate. 1t was un-
derstood to offer cession of about 1890
square miles of land, but not includ-
ing large number of Hungarian
populated towns, among them Brati-
slava, as against Hungary's demand
for about 5000 square miles.
Million Troops on Border.
Two apparently well-equipped armies
totaling more than 100000 men still
were assembled along the 600-mile
Hungarian -Czechoslovak border as
statesmen worked to find a solution
Of the problem.
GA Prague dispatch reported that
semi-official Czechoslovak sources
predicted the minority differences
would be solved during the COM
ing week" They made the FORE
cast after visits by Dr. Ferdinand
Durciansky, interior minister in the
autonomous Slovak government to
Premier Jan Syrovy and Foreign
Minister FrantiSek Chvalkovsky of
the Prague government)
Hungarian government circles
seemed inclined to carry on the nego-
tiations through diplomatic channels
for another few days at least.
Should these efforts fail, one source
said, it was planned that Budapest
suggest to Prague that Reichsfuehrer
Adolf Hitler's compromise plan be
accepted.
1910 Census Basis.
This plan was said to grant Hun
gary the right to occupy purely Hun
garian minority districts in Slovakia
and Ruthenia, according to the 1910
census except for some border places
like Bratislava, Mira, Kassa and
Ungvar.
Among the Hungarian demands still
ungranted by Prague were said to be
plebiscites in Slovakia and Ruthenia
to decide whether those areas pre-
ferred to remain with Czechoslovakia
or to return to Hungary to which they
belonged before the World War.
IT Ruthenia voted in favor of Hun
gary in such plebiscite, Budapest's s
ambition for common frontier with
Poland would be realized. Such a
plebiscite, however, was said not to be
included in Hitler's plan of compro-
mise.
Should the Czechoslavaks refuse
again, some quarters said, Hungary
would issue a 24-hour ultimatum to
accept her demands. If it were de-
fled, one usually wen-informed diplo-
mat said, Hungary's army would be
ordered to march into Czechoslovakia
and occupy Hungarian populated ter
ritories.
fOrelgn Decision Favored,
Among both Hungarian and Czecho-
sioVak diplomats there appeared to be
an increasing desire to leave the de-
clsion to foreign jury, possibly Hit
Ter himself. Both seemed TO feel they
could not themselves make a satis-
factory agreement.
An increasing war spirit, however,
was noticeable in official Hungarian
circles, and Hungary no longer ap-
peared wary of the consequences of
armed force against Czechoslovakia.
Hungarian army officers declared
the world should not underestimate
Hungary's military might
Some Hungarian diplomats said the
government had been assured by for
elgn powers, particularly Rumania and
Yugoslavia, that those countries would
not consider it aggression if Hungary
were to cross the CZechoslovak border
to occupy purely Hungarian districts.
Million Ready to Fight.
By the Associated Press.
UZHOROD. Czechoslovakia, Oct.
22.-Whatever the outcome of diplo-
matte conversations, more than l.
100000 soldiers are resting on their
arms at either side Of the Czechoslo-
vak-Hungarian border, ready to fight
II need be over the minorities ques-
ton.
Hungarian-populate districts of
Ruthenia, the eastern-most province
OF this little republic, express in
creasing concern that serious trouble
may develop if the two countries do
not soon reach an agreement on the
territory demanded by Hungary.
Hungarian peasants and party lead
ers here even fear that CZechoslovak
soldiers might not obey an order to
turn over lands to Hungary if such
an agreement is initiated.
apparently there has been little.
II any, rehabilitation of the Czech
army in the province of Slovakia or
anywhere along the Hungarian from
tier.
The Czechs are ready for any trou-
Die. Many new added barbed wire
barricades have sprung up in titled
nelds, all railway transportation CEN
ters are guarded and in most towns
throughout Ruthenia large detach-
ments of soldiers are bivouacked.
Hungarians on this side of the bor-
der insist their home country should
have returned to her all areas pre-
dominantly populated by their ma
tionality on the basis of the Munich
accord which turned over Sudetenland
to Germany.
Moreover, they argue the right of
self ef-determination should be given
other districts where Hungarians num-
Der 80 per cent or less.
Most Hungarians doubt that all the
territorial demands of Budapest will
be met, but hope that any agreement
VIII provide for big splash of terri
tory through Ruthenia which would
give Hungary and Poland a common
border.
Complicating the problem Of reach
ing an agreement is the fact that pop
ulatlon figures are in sharp dispute.