760F.62/855: Telegram
The Minister in Czechoslovakia (Carr) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 16—noon.]
195. The return of Runciman to London today is announced by the press. He stated last night in my presence that his mission was at an end. He had failed except in prolonging the negotiations. Ashton-Gwatkin said that it is clear now that an agreement with the Government was not desired by Germany. Negotiations were making progress when suddenly the Moravska Ostrava incident30 occurred more or less organized by Frank and other radical members of the party with the object of furnishing a pretext for breaking off relations. He has no doubt that the subsequent disturbances in the Sudeten area were [Page 606] deliberately inspired and directed from Germany. He said that the Sudeten ultimatum of Tuesday night31 was accepted by the Government upon the condition that a responsible member of the Henlein group would come to Praha and arrange for preservation of order if the emergency measures were met. The Sudetens refused and hence the measures were continued and extended. Henlein and Frank have now apparently gone to Germany while other moderate Sudeten leaders have returned to Praha.
Responsible Czech friends familiar with the Sudeten area confirm arming of Sudetens reported in my telegram No. 191 of September 1532 and say there is real danger of civil war on account of the rising feeling among the Czechs which may soon break their self control.
There seems to be almost complete lack of information about Chamberlain’s purpose in going to Berchtesgaden. There continues to be distrust of Chamberlain in press and other circles. The Czechs continue as firm as ever in declaring they will fight rather than accept a plebiscite or secession.