Prague, May 2.
PART irom a few minor disturbances, May Day celebrations passed quietly, though the demonstrations of both the Czechs and the Germans bore a nationalist character.
'A declaration by the National Council was read in all the towns declaring that the Czechoslovaks were prepared to defend the independence of their country to the last drop of blood.
Herr Konrad Henlein, leader of the Sudeten German Party, in a speech at Karlsbad declined to retract a word of his speech; ast week.
He said that the Sudeten Germans would accept the Constitution as a basis for negotiations, but would not accept the position of a minority—Reuter.
Prague, May 1.
'A. plebiscite in Czechoslovakia to] decide the status of the Sudeten Germans in the country was demanded today by Herr Konrad Henlein in his speech on the occasion of May Day celebrations sy am convinced the Czech people would like to be ruled more reasonably," he asserted, "but they must rst get free of the influence exerted by. their press.
"Let the Czech Government ask their people whether they prefer to ive in and with justice or in the present atmosphere of hatred and continuous struggle with the Germans," he challenged.
Referring to his own recent speech at Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad) when the Sudetens held their Congress, and when he outlined his. Party's claims for recognition as a Henlein' said today, state that my claims are not acceptable. They are most reason-fable and form the minimum, hardlysumclent basis for the possible solu-ton to the nationalities question, "AMI Sudetens are behind these eleims, Our vital aim is the attain: ment of full equality. rights within the State," he asserted. The claims to. which he referred included demands for cultural autonomy and Self-government for the Germans Cuechoslovakia. He also asked that certain areas in which the majority fof the population is German, be bounded off as German that the Sudetens be giv presentation in government and Today, this leader of 3,500,000 Sudetens appealed to the European democracies to exert pressure upon Prague to that his Party would be granted rights of equality with the Czechs.
He udded, "I must state clearly that all never be satisfied with our ent position as a minority in the We regard our present legal to the pro-in the St. Germain Treaty. is not consonant with the fundamental rights provided for in the Czech contion.
fe are willing to regard this constitution as the starting point. for finding a solution to the minorities problems, but it must be adapted to the present necessities," Herr Henlein concluded.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.