Evening star., 1938-07-23
Minister to Praha Sees
Hodza to Convey Wish
for Peace.
CHAMBERLAIN OFFERS
CERTAIN ASSURANCES
Hitler's Ambassador Repeats
Fuehrer's Intention to Have
Peaceful Settlement
BACKGROUND

this 1Ceek toas ,Dideiy heralded in
Europe as a n,oue by tUo great
democracies to sho,D their strength
and solidarity to the rising Fascist.
poWers on the continent. On eue
OF trip Hitler took steps to keep
tDay open for negotiation of agree
ments NTH Britain, agreements
hinging on peaceful settlement
OF the Sudeten German crisis in
CzechosloDdkid. matter in which
England is interested. Chamber
lain for some time has pursued a
policy which hints Cancellation
ptth Germay and Italy.
By the Associated Press.
LONDON, July 23-Prime Minister
Neville Chamberlain was disclosed
authoritatively today to have given
the German Ambassador certain as
surances" Of continued British efforts
in Czechoslovakia for solution of the
Sudeten German minority dispute.
A semi-ofncial account of yester-
days interview between the Premier
and Ambassador DR.. Herbert Won
Dirksen before the latter left for Ger
many said, however, mo concrete
proposals were made on either side nor
was any new suggestion under dis
cussion."
1t was stated that sin the course
of friendly conversation before going
on leave, the German Ambassador
gave renewed assurance OF Germany's
peaceful intentions and the desire of
his government to seek an amicable
and satisfactory solution of the Sude-
ten German question"
In return, it was added, 1.-THE Prime
Minister, on his side, gave the German
Ambassador certain assurances re-
garding the continued exercise Of his
majesty's government of their good
Offices in Phaha."
Cleaex Relatians eDssirsd.
German assurances 81 the desire for
closer Anglo German relations had
been brought to Britain by Chancellor
Hitler's adjutant, Capt. Fritz Wiede-
mann, on the eve of the departure of
King George for good will visit to
France.
The British Minister to Praha quick
ly translated the premier's words into
action.
The envoy, Basil c. Newton, visited
Premier Milan Hodza in Praha twice
in "a hours, it was disclosed, the sec
ond meeting occurring this morning.
Newton Informed the premier of
latest developments in Paris and Lon
don, 1t was said, and reiterated
Britain's desire for an amicable agree
ment between Praha and the minori-
ties.
Chamberlains assurances were in
terpreted as promise that Britain
would actively press the Czechoslovak
government to complete its minority
statute as quickly as possible and go
as far as it could in meeting the
Sudeten German autonomy and other
demands.
Preferred Concessions.
1t was considered likely, too, Britain
urged Premier Hodza to give the Sude-
tens full opportunity to negotiate on
preferred concessions before present.
ing them to Parliament, and to keep
the negotiations alive even if dead
lock developed.
Some quarters close to the London
government mentioned the possibility
Of non-aggression pact among
France, Soviet Russia and Germany
as possible way out of muddle
arising from elf-government demands
of Sudeten Germans.
Another suggestion was that Ger
many might approve four-power
plan involving France, Germany. Brit
ain and Italy to work out a solution.
Still another was reported German
willingness to enter Immediately a non
aggression pact with Czechoslovakia If
the Sudeten problem could be an
swered.
Prime Minister Chamberlain dis
cussed the point with his foreign min
lister, Viscount Halifax. who returned
from the Paris conferences, resulting
In Anglo-French reaff1rmations Of
brotherly love.
The French cabinet was called to
meet today in a special session to re-
(See BRITAIN, Page A-4.)