FLOOD OF ABUSE FROM NAZI PRESS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 89, 17 April 1939, Page 7

FLOOD OF ABUSE FROM NAZI PRESS.

REACTION TO OFFER.

"Most Cunning Message" Sent To Axis Powers.

HITLER SEES RIBBENTROP

United Press Association.—Copyricht

(Received 12 noon.)

LONDON, April 1C

A message from Berlin states that Field-Marshal Goering's "National Zeitung" says President Roosevelt's message is one of the most cunning ever addressed by the democratic world .saviours to the axis Powers precisely -when Britain is endeavouring to lead Bolshevism back into the European arena as a partner in the encirclement of Germany.

"Mr. Roosevelt appeals to the nations of order (Germany and Italy) to sit down at a conference table. Germany does not dream of swearing eternal peace to those who have engaged Moscow to fight totalitarian States."

Herr Hitler arrived in Munich from Berchtesgaden yesterday in order to discuss Mr. Roosevelt's message with his Foreign Minister, Herr von Ribbentrop, who had a lengthy telephone conversation with the Italian Foreign Minister, Count Ciano.

It is seml-officially stated in Munich, says the Independent Cable Service, that Herr Hitler will turn down the proposals.

A German spokesman said: "Germany will never allow herself to be duped, as she was once before by President Wilson's Fourteen Points. Mr. Roosevelt first stirred up the fear of war, and now he is playing the opposite game and adopting Wilson's role. As long as Bolshevism is treated as an equal partner, Germany will not be able to sit at any conference tables."

Diplomatic circles are intrigued by the fact that Danzig was not mentioned in Mr. Roosevelt's message.

Rejection Expected.

Generally, the reactions to the appeal indicate that Herr Hitler will reject it. His newspaper," the "Volkischer Beobachter," describes the message as "a miserable propaganda pamphlet." The "Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitnng" denounces it as "pharisaieal," and other journals are bitter. Typical headlines are: "Roosevelt Copies Wilson"; "Roosevelt's Publicity Stunt"; "Roosevelt Directs Message to Wrong Address." Dr. Goebbels' newspaper, "Der Angriff," says, "The British. Empire appears determined to dig its own grave. Germany gave Britain a chance to emerge from the situation last September without loss of prestige, but sne will not give her a second chance." 8.8.C. Broadcast to Germany. The German public learned of Mr. Roosevelt's message through the British Broadcasting Corporation's German language broadcast. The official text was not known to Wilhelmstrasse officials because the message reached Herr Hitler direct at Munich.

The American Ambassador, Mr. J. P. Kennedy, who was a guest at Windsor Castle "for the week-end, discussed Mr. Roosevelt's Note with His Majesty.

The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. C. R. Attlee, characterised Mr. Roosevelt's Note as a most valuable initiative, and added that the Labour party would fully support the suggested conference.

Mr. Lloyd George said: "Mr. Roose velt's Note is a magnificent and momentous appeal to reason."

A Moscow message says that although newspapers do not comment on Mr. Roosevelt's action, prominence with which they display Mr. Roosevelt's message indicates the authorities' unreserved approval. The message is greeted as a welcome effort to avoid war and arraign aggressors.

Sunday papers in Rome publish Mr. Roosevelt's appeal without comment and relegate it to back pages. They devote front pages to Count Ciano's speech at the presentation of the Crown of Albania to King Victor Emanuel.

"NOBLE APPEAL."

Roosevelt Plan Given Warm Welcome By Soviet. CONGRATULATIONS SENT. (Received 2 p.m.) MOSCOW, April 16. M. Kalinin sent the following message to Mr. Roosevelt: "I consider it a pleasant duty to express my profound sympathy and hearty congratulations on your noble appeal to the Italian and German Governments. You can be sure your initiative will find the warmest echoes in the hearts of members of the Soviet, who are sincerely interested in the preservation of universal peace."

VALUE DOUBTED.

Mr. W. M. Hughes and NonAggression Treaties. MODERN EXPERIENCE. (Received 1 p.m.) SYDNEY, this day. Mr. W. M. Hughes, Minister of External Affairs, said: "I am afraid Mr. Roosevelt's proposal to Herr Hitler and Signor Mussolini is like asking a drunkard to give up alcohol for 10 years. I think it ie a splendid idea, but it is not a~ new one.

"Athens and Sparta made a pact to last 50 years. It lasted less than one year. In view of the' experience of the 1-st 20 years, we can only ask are non-aggression or any kind of pacts worth anything at all?" '