"HITLER HAS SPOKEN"

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 90, 20 November 1939, Page 2

"HITLER HAS SPOKEN"

MR GREENWOOD WRITES

In the London Daily Herald ol October 9, Mr Arthur Greenwood Deputy Leader of the Opposition lithe House of Commons, contributed an article, "Hitler has spoken, bui his word means nothing."

"Now that Hitler has declared himself, it is as well to remind ourselves of the march of events.

"China, Abyssinia, Spain, Austria, Czecho-Slovakia and Memel-land were all the victims of aggression before the outbreak of the present war. "Long before Hitler invaded Poland, European, and, indeed, world opinion, was sick at heart of 'smash and 'grab' raids. Europe was littered not only with broken nations, but with Hitler's broken promises.

"... When Poland was attacked, in spite of our firm assertions, Hitler still thought that he could pursue his old technique and "get away with it' without challenge. He found his mistake too late. Not only was patience exhausted, but pride and honour were at stake. What was even more important and vital, the threat to liberty everywhere was so obvious it had to be contested. Defiance of Declarations. "In definancc of British and French declarations, and despising democratic opinion throughout the world, Hitler made the war . . . "... Peace can come, and come quickly when Hitler realises that the contributions great and noble Germans—and others—have brought to the advance of freedom in the world are not to be destroyed, but must be allowed to flourish . . . "... What lie said last Friday must be assessed in the light of past words and deeds. He spoke as a victor to the vanquished in'words which the world does not and cannot trust. "He assumes that the misery he has caused is right and that it will be forgotten. The crucifixion of the human spirit 5s the price of its liberty.

"But it will not be forgotten. It is the outward expression of mankind's determination—at whatever cost-—to keep what is holy and makes life worth while." . I