BASIS REMOVED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 99, 29 April 1939, Page 9

BASIS REMOVED.

PACT WITH BRITAIN. Naval Agreement Becomes Dead Letter. encirclement blamed. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 1t..50 a.m.) RKRLIN". April 28. Tn the course of his speech Herr Hitler announced that he was coi»n.un.catmg with Britain to sav that the basis ~t the Anglo-German Naval i reaty had been removed. ?'y .""pinal proposal for a voluntarv restriction of naval armaments," he said, "was based on the will and conviction that a war between Britain and Germany was impossible. This will and convution are alive in me to-day, but Britain s policy, official and unofficial leaves no doubt that that conviction is not shared in London. On the contrary, the opinion prevails that no matter what conflict in which Cermanv may some day lie engaged. Britain will always have the side against the Reich. "I profoundly regret such a development. for the only claim I ever made, and shall make, against Britain, is for a return of colonies. T have already made it clear that this will never be a cause for military conflict. "Since Britain holds the view that Germany should he opposed in all circumstances and confirms this by the policy of encirclement, the basis of the naval treaty has been removed, but if Britain wishes to re-enter negotiations, none will be happier than I at the prospect of a clear and straightforward understanding. I have never left room for doubt of my belief that the existence of the British Empire is of inestimable value to the whole of human cultural and economic life."

Act of Self-Respect. Denunciation of the naval agreement was not a matter of military importance hut an action of self-respect, said Herr Hitler, and added: "I still hope to avoid an armaments race with Britain." Herr Hitler disclosed that he had made a definite offer to Poland that Danzig should become a free State within the framework of the Reich. As a result of Poland's rejection of this proposal he regarded the GermanPolish treaty as being no longer in existence. Referring to allegations that there had been a mobilisation of troops against Poland, Herr Hitler said that he. like others, had come to the conclusion that the problems existing between Germany and Poland could be solved without resort to war. They could have been solved without resort to any treaty except that existing between the two -countries. In the interests European peace, he was doing everything in his power toward pacific solution regarding the Polish Corridor and the free city of Danzig. Germany needed a pathway .to her province of East Prussia. This had no military significance and if the magicians of Versailles had realised it, they would have sought a solution agreeable to Germany. There were three prerequisites to a solution of the present problem. Pathway to East Prussia Needed. Firstly, Germany must have a pathway to East Prussia; secondly. Danzig must be German; and. thirdly, the Polish Corridor must be finally and completely re-established. He had made these suggestions to the Polish Government, but it had declined to accede to them. He was sorry to find that his proposed 2."i-year pea< e pact had been rejected by Poland, whose decision he could not understand. The proposals had been made as a genuine effort to solve the problem for the mutual benefit of both countries, but Poland's bargain with France and Britain, based on the previous agreement between France and Poland.,had violated his pact with Poland ensuring ten years' peace. There had been no changes in his sentiments regarding European peace. If Poland desired to make a new treaty, he would welcome the opportunity of doing so with open arms. There was no territory in the present Reich, he continued, which was not there from ancient times. Either by alliance or under sovereignty the confines of the present Reich had existed long before the discovery and settlement of America by the white man. Xobody bore the responsibility that peace treaties were destructive even for the victors. For the first time $ had unhappily happened that men who had not fought had determined the policies of soldiers who knew no hate, but these old politicians, who had carefully preserved their lives, let flow over humanity in a stream of mad vengeance the force of hate, viciotisness and stupidity.

formal notes. TREATIES DENOUNCED. (Received 1 p.m.) LONDON', April 28. The British and Polish Ambassadors received Notes of denunciation of the naval pact and of the friendship pact simultaneously. The United States Charge d'Affaires received tfie text of Herr Hitler's speech as an answer to Mr. Roosevelt's messaj;e. The phrasing of the Note to Britain in identical to Herr Hitlers references to the Naval Treaty in his speech. It adds that Germany in the future is respecting the qualitative terms of the agreement, thus contributing to the avoidance of an unrestricted race for naval armaments. The Note to Poland is similarly identical to the speech. In addition it gives assurances that Germany does not intend to change her fundamental attitude towards future relations between Poland and Germany. Official circles, in Poland are most astonished at Herr Hitler's reference to a 25 years' non-aggression offer. They declare that they have no knowledge of it. Copies of Herr Hitler's speech were flown to London, in the forenoon and delivered at the Foreign Office as an act of courtesy.