Evening star., 1938-09-20
BATTLES MENACE
/. PEACE PROPOSALS
AngIo-French Plan Also Is
Peri'ed by Reported
Soviet Pledge.
~ the Associated Press.

threatened today to wreck the British
French plan for settling the conflict
peaceably.
As border hostilities spread Great
Britain was said to lack ofncial in
formation Of the Czechoslovak govern
ment's stand on the joint British
French proposal to let Germany have
the sudeten areas.
The answer was said to be delayed
both by the weight Of the decision
thrust upon the Czechoslovak cabinet
and by Prague's diplomatic negotia-
tions, which appeared to be mainly
with Soviet Russia.
(Reports reaching London from
Prague this morning indicated that
the Czech government had de-
cided not to accept the original
version Of the Franco-British plan
for dismemberment Of the re-
public and would require = more
precise statement of which districts
would have to be ceded to Ger
many, the Chicago Daily News re-
ported)
In Geneva there were reports that
Moscow was supporting Prague.
During the day Prime Minister
Chamberlain met with the Inner cab
met" which consists Of Foreign Sec
retary Viscount Halifax, Home Secre-
tary Sir Samuel Hoare and Sir John
Simon, chancellor OF the exchequer.
Anthony Eden, who resigned as for
eign secretary February 20 because
he differed with Mr.. Chamberlain
methods Of dealing with the dicta-
tors, visited the foreign ONCE late in
the afternoon for the third time dur
ing the current crisis.
Charles Corbin, the French Ambas-
sador, preceded him there. 1t was
understood both saw Lord Halifax, who
had left the inner cabinet" prior to
their arrival.
Silent on Plan Details,
British officials maintained silence
as to details of the British French
peace plan. Prime Minister Cham
berlain is expected to take this "ex-
pedient surrender" back to Chancellor
Hitler tomorrow at their second meet
ing, at Godesberg on the Rhine.
Despite the apparent decision of
the British and French governments
to stand aloof. there was obvious con-
Germ at the possibility that their plan
might fail to prevent an explosion.
The British labor party, aroused
over apparent surrender in the face
of Hitler's threats, dem anded through
Clement r. Attlee, leader Of the Labor
opposition, that Mr. Chamberlain sum-
mon Parliament Immediately.
Claimed by Poland, Hungary.
Poland and Hungary, meanwhile,
were disclosed to have lodged claims
with Britain for their own minorities
in Czechoslovakia, before the British
and French ministers YESTERDAY adopt
ed their plan for giving the Sudeten
areas to Germany
Informed sources said the Polish
envoy and the Hungarian Minister
last Friday notified the British gov
ernment that they expected the same
treatment for their minorities in
Czechoslovakia as that accorded to the
Sudeten Germans.
What specific method was evolved,
If any, to meet these demands re-
mained uncertain, since the plan has
not yet been made public officially.
The object of Mr.. ChamberR ms
original flight to Germany last Thurs
day was to find a peaceful settlement
of the Czechoslovak minorities trou-
bles, "an equitable and honorable set
tlement by consent" as semi Official
quarters put it.
But now some British quarters
studying the unohcial versions Of Mr.
Chamberlain's settlement, by which
Czechoslovakia would give her Sudeten
German areas to Germany, feel that
it really settles very little and Is
neither equitable to Czechoslovakia
nor honorable for Britain and France.
Czech Consent Doubted.
Neither, believe these commentators,
will the Premier be able to obtain the
consent of Czechoslovakia" before he
departs for the second talk with Hit
Ter, at Godesberg.
There was possibility even that he
might have to postpone the trip, if
Czechoslovakia did not agree, at least
in principle, with the Chamberlain
plan. to which the British and French
cabinets have agreed.
Czech government officials in Prague
last night were said to be seeking fur
ther time. Authoritative sources said
the Czech government had found the
proposals unacceptable, but was willing
to consider them as the basis for ne
gotiations. A preliminary reply to
Britain and France was expected to-
day.
Last Thursday, when Mr.. Chamber
lain flew to Berchtesgaden he took
with him the support and respect OF
the British people for his efforts to
end peacefully the crisis Of Sudeten
Germans demanding annexation by
Germany, the Czech governments re-
fusal and the fear Of many that Hitler
might act with force to keep his
pledges of aid to the Sudetens If they
needed it.
This time he will have the support
of probably majority, who are CRATE
full for a new feeling that war has
been avoided, but there also Is devel-
oping a feeling of opposition.
@~17VJNN( II