Evening star., 1938-05-26
CZECH FRONTIER
WATCH PROPOSED
Britain Sounds Out Berlin
and Praha on Plan to
Ease Tension.
BACKGROUND

U6NHg HtN4 ~tGCHkPS SoNP w SSSSSSs
Sudeten Germans similar to her
seizure OF Austria In March. Ten
sion at peak during elections last
meek end after killing Of tho Czech
Germans near the German frontier.
At same time Germany and Gee
chosloudkia nndSsed troops on either
side OF frontier.
BULLETIN.
PRAHA, May 26 (P).-A govern
ment spokesman said q German
warplane had been sighted on
flight over Czechoslovakia's great
munitions plant, the Skoda factory.
at Plzen (Pilsen). The report cast
ashadow over the prospects OF q
German-C -Czechoslovak settlement.
BY the Associated Press.
LONDON, May 26.-Great Britain
today sounded out both Germany and
Czechoslcvakia on a plan to send
British observers to their troubled
border as means Of lessening tension.
Germany was understood to be not
unfavorable to the plan.
Authoritative sources disclosed VIII
liam Strang, head Of the Central
European department Of the foreign
Office, would report on the proposal
after visiting British diplomats in
Berlin and Praha.
The observer idea was said still to
be indefinite. 1t was assumed, how
ever, it would entail unofficial
"umpires" who would give Britain
unbiased reports of border incidents
and help her in the role of peace
maker.
Strang left for the continent Tues
day, it was disclosed. because it was
considered inadvisable for the British
Ambassadors to leave their posts to
come to London at the height Of the
German-Czech border tension
His reports were expected to give
Britain a clearer picture of the issues
and indicate what measure would be
best to patch up the differences be-
tween Berlin and Praha.
Jan Masaryk, Czechoslovak Minister
to London, left by plane for Praha
to discuss with his government the
international situation and to give
his views on Britain's attitude toward
the Czech-G German crisis. He Is ex-
pected to return Monday.
Czechs Weigh Suggestions.
PRAHA, May 26 (P.-The Czecho-
slovak government today studied new
French and British suggestions de-
signed to terminate the crisis arising
from the demands of the Sudeten
German minority and Adolf Hitler's
''protectorate" over them.
Stefan Osusky, minister to Paris,
arrived last night by plane and re-
ported at once to Foreign Minister
Kamil Krofta. They conferred again
today.
Jan Masaryk, minister to London,
returned by air this afternoon to con-
fer with both Krofta and President
Eduard Benes.
It was understood that both Osusky
| and Masaryk brought renewed assur-
ances of Anglo-French support, but
these were accompanied by undimin-
ished emphasis on the necessity Of a
concession to the Sudetens whom the
German Fuehrer had said he would
protect from suffering"
Diplomats Satisfied.
Diplomatic quarters in Praha ex-
pressed satisfaction with the way the
government handled yesterdays diff
cult situation at Eyer when two Sude-
tens, killed last Saturday by border
guards, were given demonStrative
Nazi funeral.
Despite the aggressive tone of
funeral speeches by two Sudeten
deputies. Karl Hermann Frank and
Ernst Pfrogner, it was hoped that an
other meeting between the Sudeten
Fuehrer, Konrad Henlein, and Premier
Milan Hodza could be arranged before
the week end.
Officials also were pleased by the
comparatively calm progress Of Ger
man n-Czechoslovak diplomatic ex-
changes. German Minister Ernst
Eisenlohr has visited the foreign Office
almost daily in the past four days
and thus far he and Krofta have man
aged to keep the conversations on q
fairly friendly basis.
Defense Work Continues.
Hoping for the best but preparing
for the worst, Czechoslovakia con-
tinued preparations for defense.
Troops mobilized for defense Of the
German frontier remained in the
border region. It seemed unlikely that
the customary military parade would
be held this year on the Presidents
irthday-President Eduard Benes will
be 81 on Saturday-because the men
under arms had more pressing assign
ments.
The high command of the civil air
defense issued a reminder to house.
holders to test their "black out" equip
ment to make sure that they really
were prepared for emergency.