The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-07-25
Real Danger Spot

sT@b D@bBCA DpVt
 Prague, CzechosIoyakia, July 2b-- fUP)--C'zcchoglOyakia's position as the danger spot of Europe was intcn- sified rather than Icssened today as the result of British and German efforts to solve the minorities prob- lem. It Is pcrsistently reported here, and despite denials the reports are gaining crcdcncc, that there are dif- fcrcnces between President Eduard BcneS and Premier Milan Hodza over concessions to be made to the Ger man minority.
 These reports are that Benes, who Is closely allied to French views, is for firm stand in the interest of Czcchoslovak nationalisn and that Hodza E for generous concessions such as Great Britain urges.
 The situation has been made more complicated by events of the last week. Only q few days ago Victor De LaCr0ix, French minister, conveyed to the government Frances approval of It's stand on the minorities prob lein. Saturday Basil Cochrane-New- ton, the British minister. urged wide concessions.
 Concessions Too Heavy
 A leader of the Czech coalition parties told the United Press plainly that in his view, concessions gen. erous enough t0 satisfy the Ger mans would mean the eventual ter- ritorial dismembcrmcnt of the coun- try. This dismembermcnt he said, the Czcchs are determined to pre- vent.
 Two serious possibilities were dis cusscd: d That If Premier H0dza sought any more concessions his own position might be undermined; and fO that Czech nationalists might band together to oppose concessions.
 II WAS reported that Konrad Hem lcin, German minority leader, con- sidered visit to London to make another plea for recognition of his stand.
 The dangers were apparent--dif- ferences between the CZcch-BlO coalition and the min0ritics; differ ences between Britain and France and differences between government leaders themselves.
 But there were greater, If more human dangers in the bad feeling among the common people.
 HenIein InsuIted
 Henlein was motoring yesterday to Egcr to address a meeting. AS his automobile passed through Fran zenbad. young man ran out and spat upon him. Deputy Anton WolI- ner. riding with Henlcin. jumped from the car and seized the assail- ant. Czech police arrived and ar- rested the assailant. A group of by- islanders. said to have been Jews, sought 10 intervene. Hcnlein's aides jumped from the car and pushed the crowd back. Police said that the assallant was Dr. Bruno Bpitzer, a Jew, A member of the Red Defense League and the son of highly re- spected rabbi.
 France Is Hopeful
 Paris, July 26--tUP) French seini-0fficial quarters, always in in- umate contact with Prague, expressed belief today that the Czccho- -Bl0vak government in defer eDce to Great Britain would post pope indefinitely the passage through parliament of It's minoritieg statute.
 It WAS reported that France had agreed to this in view Of the German approach O Great Britain.
 But the feeling here, and in Prague. according t trench adyices, was Dessimistic. CZechosl0yaks felt .hat in the end any concession they made to the German minority would be rejected AS insufficient French leaders seemed to feel that the Ger man gesture D Britain was but a transitory one.
 IL was said in an authoritative quarter that France believes that British pressure on the Czechosloyak government will prove valueIess in the end because no concession that can be made will be satisfactory.