World War?

Tonight, the World wonders if it will wake up to a World at War.

Great Britain assured France and Czechoslovakia that should Germany invade, it would stand by France in its agreements. The USSR also made similar statements to that effect. French and British Governments discussed military plans today.

Adolf Hitler also took the day to make speeches on the situation. He told the German people that once this situation is resolved, there will be no more territorial problems for the Germans. He also alluded to a severe relocation program that will likely occur in the Czech lands. Hitler even said "it is the last territorial claim which I have to make in Europe, but it is the claim from which I will not recede."

Chamberlain leaves Bad Godesberg

Chamberlain returns to London breaking talks with Hitler. In his posession is a memorandum given to him by Hitler stating that he wants full military control of Sudetenland by October 1st.

Mobilization

The French have now mobilized in the Alsace region. France also claimed that it would back up its ally should it be invaded. In addition Soviet forces have mobilized in preparation to back up their ally, Czechoslovakia. It seems the war many of Europe's powers were hoping to avoid may indeed be upon us.

In the Sudetenland itself, the land that started this whole debacle, violence broke out. On the Czechoslovakian-German border there has been fighting back and forth. The Czechoslovakian troops took Eger back from the Sudeten Germans.

German troops continue to increase in number.

Talks continue between Hitler and Chamberlain at Bad Godesberg.

Strasbourg Riots against Jews

There have been reports of anti-Jewish riots in the ancient French town of Strasbourg.

Jews have found an uneasy life in Strasbourg throughout history. In the 14th Century, many were burned alive. There were laws in 1308 that forbid beards and male circumcision. There have also been infrequent pogroms against the Jews.

No Jewish Doctors in Danzig

This afternoon, the Danzig Senate annuls all work permits of Jewish Doctors who received their degrees in Germany. Reportedly, this decree affects every practicing Jewish physician in Danzig save one.

New Czechoslovakian Government

In response to Hitler's demands on September 22nd, a new cabinet has been installed in the Czechoslovakian government. President Beneš installed General Jan Syrový as Prime Minister after the resignation of Milan Hodza. He has also ordered a mobilization.

Hodza Resigns

Premier Milan Hodza has stepped down and the cabinet has been dissolved. This is a reaction to the capitulation to Germany's demands for the Sudetenland.

Hitler's New Demands are Rejected

The French and British Governments have rejected Hitler's demands for Polish and Hungarian territorial transactions.

Hitler makes new Demands

Prime Minister Chamberlain met with Chancellor Hitler in Bad Godesberg yesterday. It seemed Germany had finally gotten its demands: control of the Sudetenland and union with the German peoples there. However, Hitler has said that the conditions of the capitulation are no longer acceptable. He has added to the demands. He now wants the Poles and Magyars within Czechoslovakia to be united with Poland and Hungary, their respective nations.

Czechoslovakia Capitulates

Even after the USSR made war talk at the League of Nations yesterday, Czechoslovakia has capitulated. Late last night, the government agreed to Germany's demands.

Despite this, crowds of Czechs gathered in Prague demanding Czechoslovakian troops remain in the Sudetenland. This seems all for not since the presence of German troops on the border and a promise of invasion would bring a very swift war.

The Soviet Union talks War

Today, at the League of Nations, the Soviet Foreign Minister Maxim Litvinoff accused the French and British governments of appeasement. He further accused the two nations of using Czechoslovakia to forestall war and also predicted that a larger war would result from their current actions.

Litvinoff included in his speech that the Soviet War Department was ready to discuss military plans with France. The Soviet Union it seems is ready to back up its ally Czechoslovakia.

The Czechoslovakian Response

Today the Czechoslovakian government gave the governments of France and Great Britain a note at 2.45 PM Eastern Time. In this note they expressed their point of view. It became apparent to both the French and the British that what they said was unacceptable.

At the same time, Prime Minister Chamberlain travelled for his second meeting with Hitler in BadGodesburg. A joint declaration has been issued by both the French and British governments telling Czechoslovakia to capitulate to the German demands in 24 hours else face invasion.

Details of the Agreement

Edward R. Morrow of CBS radio reported what many in London believe to be the consensus Hitler and Chamberlain arrived at during their meeting in Bertesgaden. He said "First, the Sudeten majority districts are to be turned over to Germany. Some newspapers mention that those areas having more than 50% Sudetens will be turned over. Second, Britain is to take part in an international guarantee of what is left of Czechoslovakia. And third, the Franco-Czech and the Russian-Czech Alliance is to be abandoned."

This would effectively end the Czechoslovakian nation as we know it.

Hodza talks tough

Earlier today, the Premier of Czechoslovakia Milan Hodza announced on Czechoslovakian radio that if a plebiscite were agreed between Germany and Great Britain, it would be unacceptable to his government. He also said that if it did indeed come down to it, Czechoslovakia would go alone against Hitler and the Nazis.

Italy's own Benito Mussolini also chimed in that if there were to be a plebiscite there should be one for all races within Czechoslovakia.

At that time, Chamberlain had returned from Bertesgaden meeting with Hitler. Many assume there was a plebiscite agreed upon between Hitler and Chamberlain. Chamberlain is now discussing the situation with French Prime Minister Deladier in London.

Lord Runciman returns from Prague

Lord and Lady Runciman returned from their five-week-long trip to Prague on yesterday, September 16th. Lord Runciman's report is anticipated by the Prime Minister as soon as he is able.

The situation in the Sudetenland remains as untenable as possible.

Chamberlain visits with Hitler; Henlein's Flight

The Prime Minister of Great Britain, Neville Chamberlain met with German Chancellor Adolf Hitler in Bertesgaden, near Munich in Southern Germany on September 15th. There the two leaders will discuss ways to end this crisis before it erupts into war.

But not before all talks between Henlein and the Czechoslovakian Government completely end. Sudeten Party leader Konrad Helein had laid out an ultimatum to rescind Martial Law, recall the reserves to their barracks, withdraw the state police from the territory, and accept this by midnight or all negotiations would be called off. When his demands were not met, he fled to Germany.

With all this continuing to worsen, Nazi radio and Czechoslovakian radio transmissions have been having their own war of words. Even Hungary has joined in and reiterated Germany's narrative on events. Czechoslovakian radio continues to refute the claims made by Germany.

Martial Law in Sudetenland

It seemed the crisis was averted until Hitler's speech on the 12th. No the Sudeten Germans are up in arms once more. President Beneš has imposed martial law in response to the increased agitation. There has also been a recall of Czechoslovak reservists in light of this change of events.

Hitler rattles more sabres

Adolf Hitler said in his speech to the Nazi Party at Nuremberg that the Czechoslovakian Government was using all of its means possible to annihilate the 3.5 million Sudeten Germans. He claimed that these people were being deprived of their rights, for example, they were not permitted to sing German songs or to wear white stockings. If indeed they went through with any of these crimes they were brutally struck down. Although the tone was ferociously threatening, he gave no examples of atrocities, perhaps because there are none. "The misery of the Sudeten Germans is without end," he declared. He then went on to promise that Germany would take care of her own and put an end to the continued oppression of 3.5 million Germans. "I hope that the foreign statesman will be convinced that these are not mere words," he added ominously.

Hitler has demanded the direct annexation of the Sudetenland by the Reich, hinting that if necessary, he would resort to war. He also has said that the Sudentenland is an internal matter for Germans, and supposedly Central Europeans. It is no place for international statesmen, no doubt referring to Prime Minister Chamberlain.

Pope Pius XI speaks

Pope Pius XI has been increasingly vocal about the Anti-Semitic laws being passed in Central Europe and other countries lack of action on the matter. He has been referring to the inaction as a Conspiracy of Silence. Recently, he made a speech to Belgian Catholic pilgrims at the Vatican in which he said

"Mark well that in the Catholic Mass, Abraham is our Patriarch and forefather. Anti-Semitism is incompatible with the lofty thought which that fact expresses. It is a movement with which we Christians can have nothing to do. No, no, I say to you it is impossible for a Christian to take part in anti-Semitism. It is inadmissible. Through Christ and in Christ we are the spiritual progeny of Abraham. Spiritually, we [Christians] are all Semites".

The Pope has been published in Mit brennender Sorge a German Catholic encyclical last year condemning Nazi Party policies against the Roman Catholic Church and Judaism.

Beneš appeals to the World for Peace

Czechoslovakian President Eduard Beneš made an appeal via Radio Broadcast asking for peace and calm in the face of this crisis. He also told the Czechoslovakian people that they would be "firm and have faith in our state, in its health and its strength, in the indestructible spirit and devotion of its people."