Drama Enacted At Peace Parleys

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 147, 22 June 1940, Page 9

Drama Enacted At Peace Parleys

NO TERMS DISCLOSED

Hitler Occupies Chair Used By Marshal Foch in 1918

"WRONGS EXPUNGED"

(United Press Association.—Copyright.—Rec. noon.) LONDON, June 21. The Berlin news agency stated that Hitler received the French delegation at 3.30 p.m. in the forest of Compiegnc. He was accompanied by Ribbentrop, Hess, Generals von Brauchitsch and Keitel. The meeting was held in the same railway carriage in which Marshal Foch dictated the Armistice of 1918. The carriage had hitherto been exhibited in Paris. Hitler himself handed over the terms. The German news agency announced that to-day's action in the Forest of Compiegne expunged the wrongs done to German military honour. The dignified treatment of an honourably defeated enemy contrasted' with the memorial at this place, testifying to the eternal hatred with which Gallic contempt scorned an undefeated enemy. ' At Hitler's order Keitel read' the preamble to the armistice conditions, which stated: "At the order of the leader and supreme commander of the German defence forces, I have to. make the following communication: " 'Trusting to the assurance given to the German Reich by President Wilson and confirmed by the Allied Powers, the German defence forces laid down their arms in November, 1918. Thus ended a war which the German peoples and their Government did not want and in which, despite • vastly superior forces, the enemy failed to defeat the German Army, Navy and Air Force. At the moment of arrival of the German Armistice Commission there began a breach of the promise solemnly given. Suffering of the German People. 'In November, 1918, there began, in this very train, a period of suffering for the German people. Whatever could be done to a nation in the way of dishonour and humiliation in human material: and suffering began at this point. " 'Broken promises and perjury were used against a nation which, after over four years of heroic resistance, showed only one weakness, namely, believing the promises of democratic statesmen. ! " 'On September 3, 1939, 25 years after the outbreak of the World War, Britain and France declared war against Germany without reason. Now the war has been decided by arms, and France is defeated. The French Government has asked Germany to make known the German conditions for an armistice. Wipe Out All Memories. " 'If the' historic forest of Compiegne is chosen for handing over the terms, this is done in order to wipe out once and for all a memory which was not. glorious for France and which was felt by the German nation as the deepest shame of all times. " 'After an heroic resistance France has been defeated in a single bloody battle and has collapsed. Germany, therefore, does not intend to give the armistice negotiations with such a brave opponent a shameful character. The purpose of the German demands is:— "'(I) To prevent a resumption of the fight. " '(2) To give Germany all safeguards for the continuation of the war against Britain which was forced upon Germany; and in addition to create the preliminaries for the construction of a new peace, the essential contents of which will be the restoration of the wrong done with violence to the German nation.' " . The news agency adds that after hearing the reading of the preamble Hitler left the scene of the negotiations to the strains of the German national anthem.