AMERICA BLAMED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 77, 1 April 1940, Page 7

AMERICA BLAMED.

The Nazi spokesman alleged that the documents had been found in the Polish Foreign Office when the Xazis entered Warsaw, and declared they proved President Roosevelt was involved absolutely in bringing about the present war.

The accusation came as a bombshell for the Americans. The correspondents say most of the documents appeared to be confidential Polish records involving not only Mr. Roosevelt, but the American Ambassadors to Britain France and Poland—Mr. J. P. Kennedy. Mr. William Bullitt and Mr. A. J. Drexel Biddle, re.s[>ectively—as well as high American naval and armv officers.

In the forefront of the bundle was a report which the Polish Ambassador to Washington, Count Potocki, is alleged to have sent to Warsaw concerning a conversation with Mr. Bullitt in November, 1938: "Mr. Bullitt expressed himself regarding Germany and Hitler with the greatest vehemence and strong hatred." °

"Asked how he pictured the opening of the war, Mr. Bullitt declared that above all the United States, Britain and France must arm tremendously in order to show a list to Germany. The demo : craciee desired to get Germany involved in a weakening war with Russia, aftex which the democracies would attack Germany and compel her capitulation. The United States would unquestionably take part in such a war, but only after the tUlies had bestirred themselves."

Another report purported to concern a subsequent conversation between Count Potocki and Mr. Bullitt, in which the latter outlined an exact definition by Mr. Roosevelt of the United States' standpoint for presentation to the French and British Foreign Office*: "(1) Mr. Roosevelt sharply and unequivocally conde.mns the totalitarian States; (2) the United States" war preparations will be realised at increased tempo and will cost the colossal sum of £313,000,000; (3) Mr. Rooeevelt is firmly of the opinion that Britain and France must end every policy of compromise with the totalitarian States and not enter any discussions concerning territorial changes; (41 a moral assurance that the United States will de.«ert its policy of isolation and is prepared to take part actively with the Allies in the event of war and place it* entire financial and material resources at their disposal."

START OF THE WAR. Documents Alleged To Have Been Found In Warsaw. RELEASED BY GERMANY. BEKLIX, March 31. A declaration that the United States opposed any compromise bv the democracies with the totalitarian Powers, and also a promise that the United States would ultimately «t> to war on the side of Britain" and France, is contained in a bundle of documents which Hitler's Foreign Office handed to United States pressmen in Berlin.

TREATED COLDLY.

British Press Attitude To Nazi

Documents.

DISAPPOINTMENT FOB HITLER.

LONDON, March 31.

If Hitler and Ribbentrop expected the publication of the Polish documents to be a sensation in Europe they must be disappointed. The British" Press treats the "disclosure" coldly, and apparently accepts Mr. Roosevelt's comment that it must be taken with two or even three gains of salt.

"The Times*' and the "Daily Telegraph" give the allegations three-quar-ters of a column on inside pages, and others less. AH the papers «ive prominence to MolotofTs speech, which is regarded as having- little comfort for Germany.

On the contrary, the front pages of the (Jerman newspapers are filled with the Polish documents, crowding out MolotofTs speech. Editorials declare the documents prove the irrevocable desire of the western democracies to destroy National Socialist Germany through war.