Evening star., 1938-07-17

os the ASSOCldLeo freSS.
PRAHA, Czechoslovakia. July 10
The Czechoslovak government tonight
charged Germany with brutal and
disturbing" interference in the repub-
lies negotiations with her German
minority.
The charge was included in an Of
flcial statement denying report by
DNB, German official news agency, of
alleged new Czechoslovak troop move
ments.
Czechoslovakia intends to give the
Germans as well as other minority
groups every possibility to cooperate
IN solving the minorities problem
which enters decisive stage Monday,
the statement said.
But, despite the governments good
will and despite its liberal attitude,
the government declared certain for
eign propaganda is 'rudely impeding
these negotiations.
Danger Emphasized Anew.
The danger of the issue was empha-
sized anew today by reports on both
sides OF the German Czechoslovak
border of troop movements. But Of
hclals calmly denied German reports
of new CzechoSlovak troop mobilization
movements and refused to he alarmed
over a reported shift Of German SOL
diers.
President Eduard Benes on Monday
Will conduct decisive meeting of the
cabinets subcommittee on constitu-
tional reform.
The road then is expected to he
cleared for concrete negotiations with
the republics minorities. The most
clamorous for autonomy and other
concessions are the Sudeten Ger
mans. A danger behind the demands
OF the Sudeten Germans is the fact
that Chancellor Adolf Hitter of Ger
many has proclaimed himself lne.l
protector
Czechoslovak leaders cling to the
hope, Parliament may be COW >ked
July rs to pass the cabinets three-fold
set of bills for language autonomy
the nationalites statute and admins
trative reform
They pointed out, however. that ex-
haustive negotiations with leaders
OF various minority groups are more
important than adherence to July 25
as the convocation date.
3,50o,000 Are Germans.
Among Czechoslovakia's minorities
are nearly 3,500,000 Germans, 600 900
Hungarians and 55o.00O Russians. The
country has total population of
more than 100000 persons.
Government spokesmen said nothing
was further from the governments
thoughts than to force its measures
upon the minorities without giving
ample opportunity for discussion and
clarlncat1on in man-to-man deliber-
ations before bringing them before
Parliament.
Inc government therefore would
not hesitate to postpone temporarily
the convocation of Parliament if mi
nority leaders would gain desired time
for reflection and discussion.
There is no desire or intention to
create fait accompli for the Sudeten
Germans" an official spokesman said.
"On the contrary. We want them to
have every opportunity to ask ques-
tions."
Legislatures for Provinces.
Under the proposed nationalities
statute, reliable sources indicated the
government probably would convert
s~exIsting governmental district boards
into provincial legislatures.
Members Of the board have been
appointment by the government. Under
the reported plan. these diets would
be established in Praha, Brno, Brati-
slava and Udzhorod and the members
would be elected.
According to semi-official previews
OF the contents of the statute. the
most important section would apply
the principle OF national proportion
ality automatically to public services.
regional administration. schools cul-
tural institutions, public contracts and
subventions.
In other words, about one-fourth
of the positions and jobs would be
held by the German minority since
Germans constitute almost % Der cent
OF the states population.