At 1 pin. today a Havas correspondent learned that Herr Hitler's reply to Mr, Chamberlain's letter had been drafted but had not yet been handed as the exact terms of the answer were still being subject to exchanges of views between the Fuehrer and his counsellors.
German quarters admit the existence of serious difficulties but declare that any conference "hes its crisis and one must not be too pessimistic.
It seems that Mr. Chamberlain absolutely wants written assurances from the Fuehrer before continuing the talks. It is probable that these assurances will deal with the entrance of German troops into the Sudeten areas and the promises made by the Fuehrer himself at Berchtesgaden.
The question of the delimitation of the new frontier between Czechoslovakia and Germany and the demobilization of the German troops seem to have also created serious difficulties—Havas.
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Fighting broke out in Sudetenland this morning as armed Sudetens, assisted by German Storm Troopers and Black Guards, begin invasion of Sudeten territory, according to Czech official sources.
Official quarters here also state that General Faucher, Chief of the French Military Mission in Czechoslovakia, has sent his resignation to the French Government and has asked to be relieved of his duties. At the same time, he is said to have announced that he has put himself at the disposal of the Czech defence forces.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.