The times-news., 1938-09-23
Premier And Hitler Fail to
Meet Again Today; Ex-
change Notes Instead
ATMOSPHERE TENSE
AT NEGOTIATION SITE
By WEBB MILLER

Copyright, 1888, United Press)
GODESBERG, Germany, Sept.
23. (UP)-Negotiations between
Prime Minister Neville Chamber
lain and Fuehrer Adolf Hitler
struck a snag today and grave
tense atmosphre prevailed in this
Rhineland center.
The scheduled second meeting
between Chamberlain and Hitler
did not take place this morning.
Instead, Chamberlain sent Hit
Ter letter. Several hours later,
spokesman for Chamberlain said
Hitler had replied, but contents
of the fuehrer's note were not re-
vealed. Hitler was in constant
consultation with his encourage
across the river from Chamber
lain's hotel.
Chamberlain's latter, it was be-
lieved, demanded pledge In
black and white that Germany
would not move into Czechoslovs-
kia while negotiations are in prog
ress.
There was no official confirms.
ton, but semi-officisl German
source said:
"Just how do you answer such
a letter? How can we guarantee
not to march into a country where
such conditions prevail"
News from the Czech border
and from France added to the
tension and to fears that the crisis
may be reaching the gravest point
since it began.
Fighting between Sude I g y
Germans and Czechs was reported
along the border. From France
came news that heavy French
troop movements were in prog
ress along the German frontier.
Despite the difficulties, there
was no sign of an actual break in
the negotiations between Cham
berlain and Hitler, and some hope
that they might be resumed late
today.
Hitler's reply to Chamberlain
was hurried along the river bank
by automobile to the ferry where
it was transferred to another
automobile and taken to Chamber
lain's hotel.
Observers from the hotel bal
cony thought they saw another
envelope handed to the first auto
mobile from one which came down
from Chamberlain's hotel.
A propaganda ministry official
said that since the British must
translate the reply, it was doubt
full that an immediate contact be-
tween Chamberlain and Hitler
would be made if arrangements
had been made for them to meet
at all today.
Very high Nazi quarters were
quoted as having said the whole
situation had been changed by
the appointment of a "Red gem
eral" to head the Prague govern
ment and that obviously Germany
could not tolerate such a menace.
Uniformed German priv ts
sources said anything may be eX-
pected, but we are completely IN
the dark about what will be tn"
further moves, not only in the II
ternational situation but the
Chamberlain Hitler contacts
1t became apparent this morn
ing that a definite hitch had oc-
Cured in the negotiations intend
ed to result in a settlement Of the
Czechoslovak minority problem
and an agreement to discuss later
means of consolidating European
peace.
An atmosphere Of deep anxiety
prevaded the British delegation
at it's hotel on Peters Hill, across
the Rhine from Godesberg where
Hitler waited.
First a motor car was ordered
to take Chamberlain across to Hit
ler's hotel. The car waited. Then
it was disclosed that there was a
delay. Something h d gone
wrong.
Next came terse official an
nouncement:
"Mr. Chamberlain sent letter
to Herr Hitler this morning, to
which it is understood Hitler is
replying"
Immediately afterward it was
made known that the proposed
morning meeting between Cham
berlain and Hitler had been post.
poned until later today in conss"
quence of Chamberlain's letter.
Before making his announce
ment, Chamberlain telephoned to
cabinet ministers in London.
He talked long. A secretary
came out into the hotel corridor
outside the British suites. He read
the announcement about the let.
ter. Then he read the second an
nouncement:
"The meeting which was to