The Socialist party’s official newspaper, El Socialista, with bold headlines today urged the workers to “close up the guard with the necessary rigor for the decisive occasion.”
“The regime now faces the difficult test with which it has been threatened for some time,” it added. “But the regime has at its disposal reinforcements as reliable as they are considerable. These reinforcements have been offered unconditionally to the government by Leftist parties and organizations.
“As they mount guard, the workers still have not forgotten the repression they suffered in Asturias [chief scene of the 1934 revolt]. The workers know well what they could expect if the regime’s adversaries triumphed and succeeded in establishing a Fascist corporative State.”
MAY 2, 1937
NEUTRALITY QUEST IN A THIRD PHASE
By HAROLD B. HINTON
WASHINGTON, May 1—The latest step the country has taken in its quest for peace, via the so-called neutrality route, is plainly derived from the experiences of the United States in the World War. The new legislation, dramatically enacted to replace the law expiring at midnight tonight, is designed to avoid such pitfalls as the nation faced from 1914 to 1917.
To realize how the whole neutrality movement has grown from the experiences of President Wilson and his advisers, one has only to recall the principal difficulties the United States suffered in those days.
American merchantmen were detained by British and French warships, taken into port and searched for contraband. Under the new neutrality law, the American Government would guarantee that no American ships would carry contraband.
Other American merchant vessels were sunk by German submarines for the reason, as the Germans argued the case, that they might be armed and a submarine could not risk coming to the surface to visit and search them. Under the new law, American merchantmen will be forbidden to carry armament.
PASSENGERS AFFECTED
American citizens lost their lives on the Lusitania, the Sussex and other passenger vessels of the warring countries. If another war should come American citizens would be breaking the laws of their own country by traveling on such vessels.
American goods carried as cargoes to belligerents were captured by other belligerents, and American merchants demanded that their country protest what they considered illegal seizures. The “cash and carry” policy of the new law requires that no American hold any right, title or interest in any cargo destined for any belligerent.
In the World War, the belligerents, principally the Allies, borrowed large sums in this country to purchase munitions here, thereby working up, in the opinion of some neutrality champions, a vested interest on the part of some manufacturers and bankers in the success of the allied arms. The new law forbids any export of arms, ammunition or implements of war to any belligerent, as well as all loans.
To understand the criticism which such international lawyers as John Bassett Moore, Edwin M. Borchard and others direct at the whole program, it must be realized that, under international law, none of these steps is needed to preserve the official neutrality of the United States. They are intended solely to keep this country from involvement through a repetition of the inflammatory incidents of World War days.
A nation, to be neutral, has only to avoid helping either side in a conflict by its governmental agencies. It need not forbid its citizens to perform such acts as running blockade, trading in contraband, or other unneutral adventures. Obviously, those citizens would perform such acts at their own risk.
But the United States has gone beyond this conception. In the three neutrality acts Congress has thus far adopted, there has been a steady progression toward isolation in time of foreign war.
MARCH 12, 1938
The Austrian Situation
Following an ultimatum from Berlin, the Schuschnigg government in Austria retired yesterday evening and was succeeded by one headed by the Nazi leader, Arthur Seyss-Inquart, as Chancellor. He immediately asked Germany to send troops to help in preserving order. Some 50,000 highly armed and mechanized forces marched to the border. Both Munich and Vienna report some crossed into Austria. Berlin denies this. Nazi mobs took possession of Vienna and raided the Jewish quarter. The swastika was flown over public buildings, and Fatherland Front forces were disarmed. There were similar demonstrations in other cities.
Europe was aghast at the coup of Hitler. His action struck Italy with the force of an exploding bomb. The impression was that Italy would not retort with force, but it was believed the Rome-Berlin axis had been shaken and that Hitler’s visit to Rome might be canceled. No advance notice of Germany’s intention is believed to have been given to Mussolini.
Britain delivered a sharp protest to Berlin, saying Germany’s action was bound to produce “the gravest reactions, of which it is impossible to foretell the issue.” Other warnings were delivered earlier, but Foreign Minister von Ribbentrop retorted that Germany saw no reason to confer with Britain until her purposes had been achieved elsewhere.
In Paris it was understood Italy had been asked if she would join in a united effort to save Austria, but had refused. France, however, took action similar to that of Britain in protesting the Reich’s action. The parties tried to get together to form a new Cabinet to deal with the situation, but they were still too deeply divided to make that accomplishment possible. It was believed Léon Blum would not be able to gain sufficient support to head a government.
Premier Negrin of Spain announced that Italy and Germany had made unofficial proposals for some agreement with the Loyalists, but they were determined not to enter on negotiations.
SEPTEMBER 26, 1938
The Hitler Memorandum
By The Associated Press.
LONDON, Sept. 25—The text of the “final” memorandum of Chancellor Adolf Hitler of Germany given to Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain of Britain Friday for presentation to Czechoslovakia, as disclosed by authoritative sources in London, follows:
Reports increasing in number from hour to hour regarding incidents in the Sudetenland show that the situation has become completely intolerable for the Sudeten German people and, in consequence dangerous to the peace of Europe.
It is, therefore, essential that the separation of the Sudetenland, agreed to by Czechoslovakia, should be effected without any further delay.
On the attached map the Sudeten German area which is to be ceded is shaded in red. Areas in which a plebiscite also is to be held, over and above the areas to be occupied, are drawn in and shaded in green.
Final delimitation of the frontier must correspond to the wishes of those concerned. In order to determine these wishes a certain period is necessary for the preparation of a plebiscite during which disturbances must in all circumstances be prevented.
A situation of parity must be created. The area designated on the attached map as German is to be occupied by German troops without taking into account whether in a plebiscite it may prove to be in this or that part of an area with a Czech majority.
On the other hand, Czech territory is to be occupied by Czech troops without taking into account whether in this area there lie large German language islands in which in a plebiscite a majority will, without doubt give expression to its German national feeling.
With a view to bringing about an immediate and final solution of the Sudeten German problem the following proposals are submitted by the German Government:
I
Withdrawal of the whole Czech armed forces, police, gendarmerie, customs officials and frontier guards from the area to be evacuated as designated on the attached map, this area to be handed over to Germany on Oct. 1.
II
Evacuated territory is to be handed over in its present condition (see further details in Appendix). The German Government agrees that plenipotentiary representatives of the Czech Government and of the Czech Army should be attached to headquarters of the Germany military forces to deal with details of modalities (methods of making effective) of the evacuation.
/> The Czech Government to discharge at once all Sudeten Germans serving in the military forces or police anywhere in Czech State territory and permit them to return home.
The Czech Government to liberate all political prisoners of the German race.
III
The German Government agrees to permit a plebiscite to take place in those areas—to be more definitely defined—before Nov. 25 at the latest.
The plebiscite itself will be carried out under control of an international commission. All persons who resided in the areas in question on Oct. 28, 1918, or who were born in those parts prior to this date will be eligible to vote.
A simple majority of all eligible male and female voters will determine the desire of the population to belong either to the German Reich or the Czech. State.
During the plebiscite both parties will withdraw their military forces out of the area to be defined more precisely. The date and duration will be settled mutually by the German and Czech Governments.
IV
The German Government proposes that an authoritative German-Czech commission should be set up to settle all further details.
APPENDIX
The evacuated Sudeten German area is to be handed over without destroying or rendering unusable in any way the military, economic or traffic establishment (plants). These include ground organization of air service and all wireless stations.
All economic and traffic materials especially rolling stock of the railway system in the designated areas are to be handed over undamaged. The same applies to all utility services (gas works, power stations, etc.).
Finally, no foodstuffs, goods, cattle, raw materials, etc., are to be moved.
WHAT CHANCELLOR HITLER DEMANDS FROM CZECHOSLOVAKIA
This map was drawn from one obtained by The Associated Press from Czech sources and wirelessed from London last night. It purports to be a copy of the one given by Herr Hitler to Prime Minister Chamberlain representing his final demands. The heavily shaded area shows the territory whose surrender is demanded outright, with all property in it, by Oct. 1. The light shading shows the territory in which he demands a plebiscite by Nov. 25.
SEPTEMBER 26, 1938
KELLOGG PACT CITED
President Asks Solution by Mediation—Notes the Horrors Of War
SEES NO NEED FOR FORCE
Convinced People of Europe Want Peace, He Asserts in a Dramatic Plea to Rulers
President Roosevelt made a personal appeal early today to Chancellor Hitler and President Benes to settle the German-Czech controversy by negotiation. He pointed to their countries’ obligations under the Kellogg-Briand pact.
Britain and France were expected to send a joint appeal to Herr Hitler today, warning him that insistence on his demands to Prague would almost certainly mean a European war unless they were modified. Chiefs of the British and French Governments met last night and are to meet again this morning.
The text of the German demands, showing claims for Czechoslovak territory and property, was made public.
The French Cabinet unanimously approved Premier Daladier’s proposal to warn Herr Hitler that he must guarantee to respect Czechoslovakia after the cession of the Sudetenland or risk war.
Prague received the German demands and it was indicated no government could accept them. Reports in other capitals said they had been declared unacceptable. An official broadcast said the mobilization was not provocative but had been ordered after Britain and France had indicated they could not approve Herr Hitler’s terms.
Herr Hitler became incensed over the Czech broadcast and decided to address the nation tonight as part of a “historic manifestation” on the subject of Czechoslovakia. An uncompromising stand was forecast.
Warsaw received a note from Prague indicating the Teschen district would be added to Poland if Germany got the Sudeten district. Geneva heard the cession of territory to Hungary also was contemplated.
SEPTEMBER 27, 1938
DOUBTS FELT IN LONDON
Roosevelt’s Appeal Is Praised But Does Not Raise Hopes
Special Cable to The New York Times.
LONDON, Monday, Sept. 26.—The effectiveness of President Roosevelt’s appeal was strongly doubted here this morning although its motives were appreciated wherever the news was read.
The British Government and people would be thankful if the President’s intervention averted war, which all are dreading. But there is little belief here that Chancellor Adolf Hitler will pay much attention to a democratic President who has so often denounced his methods but who now appeals to his reasonableness in an emergency.
Moreover, the British can see little more logic in President Roosevelt’s message to Herr Hitler and President Eduard Benes than in the United States Neutrality Act which makes no distinction between aggressor and victim.
One comment this morning was that it would have been just as sensible to have appealed to King Albert of Belgium to avert the War of 1914 as to ask President Benes to do so now. What Britain would like, of course, is a declaration by President Roosevelt expressing moral support for Britain, France and the Czechs in the present crisis.
SEPTEMBER 30, 1938
People Stand Outside Hotel for Hours to Get Glimpse of Him And Cheer Him
By The Associated Press
MUNICH, Germany, Sept. 29—Men and women of Munich stood cheerfully for hours today for a glimpse of the 69-year-old man who started this business of man-to-man talks for peace.
That man was Britain’s Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain, a strange figure in black amid the patriotic panorama of this cradle of Nazism.
Every second man who stood and waited and cheered wore a swastika lapel button. Every second woman was of the handsome, well-turned-out sort of which Munich is proud.
They packed lawns in front of the old-fashioned Regina Palace Hotel, headquarters of the British delegation to the four-power conference. The crowd was packed eight and ten feet deep around a square formed by brown-shirted Storm Troopers before the hotel entrance.
Inside additional dozens were camped on the hotel’s twin stairways and in every conceivable spot in the tiny red, white and gold lobby.
LITTLE TO SEE MOST OF THE TIME
Most of the time there wasn’t anything to see.
Every half-hour two steel-helmeted, black-coated honor guards with bayonets on shoulders snapped through the manual of arms on a hasty signal. Every now and then new black-shirted guards stamped to posts in front of the hotel’s baroque marble pillars and the preceding guard goose-stepped away.
There were exciting intervals when Brownshirts filed in and out and the crowd held its breath in anticipation.
There were real cheers, like the kind one hears in an American football stadium, when the slim, black-coated Chamberlain, with a smile and a careful walk, came out. There were Hitler salutes, it is true, but many of the throng kept their hands at their sides and there was lots of noise of the kind one might hear anywhere where people are glad.
After Mr. Chamberlain had driven away in the sticky Munich afternoon for the conference of the statesmen beneath the gorgeous pagan panels of the Fuehrerhaus, the palace Herr Hitler built to glorify the birth here of the Nazi movement, the same people stood into the night, joking and waiting.
They were still waiting when the British Prime Minister came downstairs again for the third meeting with Chancellor Adolf Hitler, Premier Benito Mussolini of Italy and Premier Edouard Daladier of France. Then there was a thunder of “hochs” that must have reached all the way down the line of guards on both sides of the street leading from the hotel to the Fuehrerhaus. And downstairs a dance band was blaring that all-English rage of the year, “The Lambeth Walk,” while Bavarian dancers linked arms and shouted the Cockney “Oy!”
British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain (front row, second from right) walks past a Nazi honor guard at his reception upon arriving at Oberwiesenfeld airport in Munich on the way to a meeting with Adolf Hitler over the latter’s threats to i
nvade Czechoslovakia, September 28, 1938.
EACH GROUP IS CHEERED
The street crowds roared acclaim for each group as automobiles bearing delegates back to the Feuhrerhaus whizzed tnrough the streets, but the loudest applause was that for Mr. Chamberlain.
Four times the crowds roared as one by one, M. Daladier, Mr. Chamberlain, Herr Hitler and finally Signor Mussolini and their escorts sped back to the scene of the conference.
The cheers for Mr. Chamberlain rolled along, block after block. Spectators knew well ahead that he was coming for they could hear shouts of “Chamberlain! Chamberlain!” as his car approached.
The Prime Minister waved his black hat to the crowds of Southern Germans, who cheered louder when they saw his broad smile.
“Things must be going better,” was the frequent comment.
As Chancellor Hitler passed he seemed too busy with his own thoughts to give more than a preoccupied smile and stiff salute to his people.
SEPTEMBER 27, 1938
Roosevelt Makes Appeal
By LUTHER HUSTON
Special to The New York Times.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 26—President Roosevelt today made a direct personal appeal to Chancellor Adolf Hitler of Germany and President Eduard Benes of Czechoslovakia to settle their controversies by negotiation and preserve the peace of the world.
In a message sent to the German and Czechoslovak leaders, and forwarded also, through Secretary of State Cordell Hull, to the Prime Ministers of France and Great Britain, the President voiced the hope of 130,000,000 Americans that the controversies of Europe would be-settled without resort to arms. He called the attention of the nations involved to their obligations under the Kellogg-Briand pact and other treaties and reminded them that even should these avenues of settlement become obstructed other methods of arbitration were available.
The New York Times Book of World War II, 1939-1945 Page 7