BITTER SPEECH

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 125, 9 March 1936, Page 5

BITTER SPEECH

HITLER ADDRESSES REICHSTAG. GERMANY’S CLAIMS STATED. FIERCE ATTACK OX! SOVIET. (United Press Association—Copyright.) BERLIN, March 7. Herr Hitler entered the Reichstag at noon and declared: “General Goering summoned you at my orders. It is a meeting which the people will instinctively regard as decisive.” There were dramatic moments during the meeting. Herr Streicher sat next to Herr Hitler, and behind sat General Goering contemplatively stroking his chin. Herr Hitler was frequently checked by applause, and the whole assembly rose and cheered without restraint for half a minute when the reoccupation of the Rhineland was announced. The session ended with a triple “Heil, Hitler!” and the singing of the “Horstwessel” and “Deutschland ITber Alles.”

Wearing a brown shirt, clutching a handkerchief in his clenched hand and emphasising sentences with abrupt gestures, Her.v Hitler returned repeatedly throughout his speech to a denunciation of the Franco-Soviet pact which, he asserted, destroyed any real equilibrium and contradicted both the letter and spirit of the Locarno Treaty. Germany was always ready to fulfil the Locarno Treaty, he said, so long as others did likewise. Herr Hitler added: “My conclusions on the new situation are hard. I bitterly regret denouncing the Locarno Treaty, but I have tried repeatedly in the last three years to build a FrancoGerman bridge of understanding. It is infinitely tragic that after many years of honest endeavour to win French friendship a military alliance should have been concluded of which we know the beginning but not the end. There may be incalculable consequences unless Providence has more mercy than men deserve.” Passionate Appeal l . Herr Hitler denied that political activities against the Versailles Treaty were intended to damage France, which had not suffered by the of equality to Germany. He added: “I cannot only make sacrifices for inteinational rapprochement. I must also make them for ray own people who would rather shoulder all sacrifices than surrender their honour.” Herr Hitler’s voice 'remained firm until the peroration, when he pleaded, sobbing, with outstretched arms for the people’s support, saying: “Many European statesmen consider me fantastic, or at least a burdensome scaremonger. Nevertheless, I never feel like a dictator, but like a leader with plenipotentiary powers. I ,&m often oppressed by worries and pass sleepless nights. I ask the German people to strengthen me in the struggle for true peace and to stand up their honour.” Herr Hitler then reviewed the years since the Great "War, declaring. Gei many, above all nations, made sacrifices for President AATlson’s idealism; yet the tension has increased more than ever. The god of war has not laid down hi? armour but has marched through the world more heavily armed than ever. Warlike Intention Denied. “The nations forced Germany to take credits and simultaneously e stroyed her export, trade, blaming her afterwards for unwillingness to pay* The European nations, after all, were members of a family. If commonsense were not employed there would he explosions, leaving a field ol chaos behind. It was unwise to believe, in so small a house as Europe, that it was possible to have different conceptions of right. n “The world often speaks of Germany’s problem, which many consider lies in the difference between the German regime and that of other countries. Others see it in Germany s alleged war lust, dormant aggressive intentions and devilish ability to get the better of opponents. . , . “The real German problem is that 67,000,000 Germans live in a restricte area and claim just the same right to live as others. Thye have as little longing as the British and French to die as heroes for fantastic ideals. “Soviet Interference.” “Another German problem is Soviet interference in German affaiis. ei many’s rearmament is not a revival o the European problem, but its solution. Germany has saved other nations from Bolshevism. Europe is divided into two parts—one composed of independen national States to whom we are tied by history and culture, and the other governed by intolerant Bolshevist philosoP “It is regrettable that after all Germany’s efforts to come to terms, France should conclude the liancoSoviet Pact. I proposed everything possible to lessen Franco-German tensions, and all was rejected. “Britain, with a sense of reality, accepted my proposal for a restrictive naval agreement, which is all that iemains of our disarmament efforts. Herr Hitler described Russian arming, declaring that it was contrary to the spirit of Locarno adding that the Soviet championed Bolshevism. 'Would Paris become another MosCOW ? After speaking for 70 minutes, H|eii Hitler read and handed to foreign Ambassadors a memorandum in winch he stated that it was indisputable that the Franco-Soviet treaty was directed solely against Germany. “Russian assumes obligations far beyond the stipulations of tlie League Covenant,” he stated. “France is bound to military action against Germany 'even if not entitled to it by the League’s decisions. France thtis claims for herself the right to deicide who is the aggressor. “The agreement, in practice, means

nothing other than a decision to act as if the League and the Locarno treaty did not exist.” Herr Hitler finished by announcing the reoccupation of the Rhineland. , “This is the historic hour at which German troops are now entering their garrisons in the western provinces of the Reich,” he said. “We join them in a solemn oath not to yield. befoi e any power of force. In the effort to restore the honour of the nation we will succumb rather than capitulate.’ General Goering announced that the Reichstag had been dissolved to enable the people to vote on the Government's policy pn March 29.