ALLIES AWAIT NAZI SURRENDER OFFER

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 100, 30 April 1945, Page 6

ALLIES AWAIT NAZI SURRENDER OFFER

GERMANY BROKEN

Swedish Count Again Meets Himmler N.Z. Press Association—Copyright Rec. 2 p.m. LONDON, April 29. It is generally expected in Whitehall that the Allied Governments will know within 48 hours whether or not an acceptable offer of surrender will be forthcoming from Germany, says the Daily Telegraph's political correspondent. He adds that should such an offer be made a little time might be necessary before any public statement could be made, but it was expected that announcements in generally agreed terms would not be delayed beyond the next week-end. A surrender offer in terms acceptable to the three major Allies would be more readily considered if it came from Himmler than if it emanated from any other source, as it is considered that he is the only person in a position to ensure that the German units with which the German High Command is still in touch would cease resistance, adds the correspondent. Week-End Activity The Daily Express Stockholm correspondent says that despite the Allies' rejection of Himmler's original plan, negotiations were going on all the week-end. Diplomats thought to-night that they were promised a possibility of results in a matter of days, even hours.

Count Bernadotte, the Swedish Red Cross leader, is reported to have again seen Himmler in Denmark. He is expected to arrive back in Sweden to-morrow. No doubt both he and the Swedish Government are making prodigious efforts to bring off an early armistice in order to save further bloodshed and destruction, especially in Denmark and Norway.

The Swedish Foreign Office confirms that Count Bernadotte, vicepresident of the Swedish Red Cross, transmitted an oral message from Himmler to the Swedish Government. • The Government handed the message to the British and American Ministers at Stockholm.

The Press Association's diplomatic correspondent says that informed opinion in London sees Himmler's message as the opening , gambit of moves which may shortly end the war in Europe. Himmler appears to have taken complete control. As soon as he announces Germany's surrender the Allied terms will be presented to him for acceptance. There is no question of argument or negotiation. Germany from that moment will come under Allied military government.

Rnssia's Likely Inclusion

The Times Stockholm correspondent says that authoritative military opinion there is that when the knowledge of Himmler's move spreads among German military commanders, as it inevitably will, the effect on their will for continued resistance will be devastating.

Count Bernadotte's American wife told reporters that there had been no written agreement in Germany, and added: "But my husband will carry on like a modern St. George."

Himmler provided Count Bernadotte with a special plane to fly to Sweden and back to Denmark.

The Times diplomatic correspondent says that there is expectation in official quarters that Himmler's reply to the Allied rejection of his offer will not be long delayed and there is confidence that when it arrives it will be found that the offer is extended to include Russia. The confidence is based on the consideration that Himmler would not have moved in the first place if he had not seen the hopelessness of Germany's position. The United Press correspondent in San Francisco quotes a high British source for a report that Himmler sent the following message through Stockholm to the British and American Governments: "It is feared that Hitler is not very well and may not live another 24 hours."