Mr. Chamberlain Sends Letter to Herr Hitler Godesberg Talks Held Up Prague, Sept. 23.
IGHTING has broken out Sudetenland following a general invasion of Sudeten territory from Germany by armed Sudetens, assisted by German Storm Troopers and Black Guards, it is learned in official Czech quarters here.
The invasion is said to have begun at 1 o'clock this morning.
The in ursions are being resisted, and, according to official reports, efforts are being made to the Sudetens, who are stated to have already captured control of some towns and districts.
The situation is described as serious around the frontier towns of Asch, in west Rumburg, and Warnsdorf, in the north, where, the Sudeten advance is strongest. Sudetens are alleged to be spreading a report that the German army is following behind.—Reuter.
Godesberg, Sept. 23. rAITING journalists here were amazed this morning when it Was announced that the meeting between Mr. Neville Chamberlain, the British Prime Minister, and Herr Adolf Hitler, arranged for this morning, had been postponed. Pressmen considered that the postponement might indicate that an entirely new lation had arisen, It was subsequently officially announced by the British delegation that Mr. Chamberlain had sent a letter to Herr Hitler, who is understood to be sending a reply.
The contents of the letter have not been revealed.
British officials early this morning were telephoning London. Mr. Chamberlain himself had a long conversation with the British capital. German circles express. the hope that the talks will not break down.
German opinion is that Mr. Chamberlain has made such a good impression on Herr Hitler, both as a man of goodwill and negotiate that the Fuehrer will not lightly allow a breakdown. to be caused by sudden untoward events.
Herr Hitler's answer to Mr. Chamberlain's Note, according to an official jouncement, was received at 3.35 pin, German' circles expect the conference to last until tomorrow evening, but do not believe that today's talk will begin before 5 p.m.
One German spokesman said to Reuter: "Mr, Chamberlain yesterday tuiked with Herr Hitler with perfect frankness of the difficulties "which had to be met, but that is not, by any means, ground for pessimism, "It is far better that both sides should know Seat where they stand."
Lights burned to the early hours of this morning at the hotel where Mr. Chamberlain and his party are staying in Koenigswinter, while at Godes-berg Herr Hitler conferred throughout the night with Herr Heinrich Him tuler, Leader of the 8.S. and of the State police, and Herr Joachim von Ribbentrop, the German Foreign Minister.
Plea for official statement was issued yesterday by the British delegation, nouncing their intention of resum: Ing conversations this morning.
"the statement adds that, "in the meantime, the frst essential in the opinion of Mr. Chamberlain is, the determination of all concerned ensure that local conditions in Czechoslovakia are such as not in any way to interfere with the progress of the conversations.
"The Prime Minister, the statement declares, therefore appeals most] earnestly to everybody. to. assist in maintaining a state of orderliness, and to refrain from any action of "any Kind likely to lead to incidents, The talks yesterday began after 4 pin, and it was officially announced afterwards that only an interpreter was. present with Mr. Chamberlain and Herr Hitler until 620 pin, after which the two statesmen were joined by the full delegations in the dining-handed as the exact terms of the answer were still being subject to exchanges of views between the Puehrer and his counsellors, German quarters admit the exist fence of serious difficulties but declare that any conference "has its crisis" and one must not be too pessimistic.
Tt seems that Mr. Chamberlain absolutely wants written assurances from the Fuehrer before continuing the talks. It ts probable that these assurances will deal with the entrance of German troops into' the Sudeten slovakia and Germany and the demobillzation of the German troops seem to have also created serious difmeult-
Berlin, Sept. 23.
Postponement of the negotiations between Herr Hitler and Mr, Cham~ berlain caused uneasiness in political quarters here and raised fears that the crisis might enter a new and most critical stage.
Foreign circles interpret the viol~ ent attacks in the German press against Czechoslovakia as aggravate ing the situation, 'Preparations for holding anti aircraft defence exercises have been undertaken in several districts of Berlin, antiaircraft guns being placed' on roofs of buildings this
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