"SLOVAKIA NOW AT PEACE"

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22830, 2 October 1939, Page 4

"SLOVAKIA NOW AT PEACE"

DECLARATION MADE BY PREMIER ' - % GERMAN YOKE STILL IN EXISTENCE (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.) (Received October 1, 11.55 p.m.) LONDON, September 30. After making her own grab at Poland, involving 3600 square miles, which Germany intends to grab for herself, Slovakia, through her Prime Minister (Dr. Tiso) as spokesman, declared: “We are now at peace with the entire world. That means we are not engaged in any fight against Britain and France.” He officially declared that Slovakia would give Germany moral support and economic assistance in return for Germany’s continued protection. One hundred and fifty thousand Slovakian soldiers are being demobilised. Bratislava is gay with illumination after months of the black-out. Officials, however, are disinclined to discuss how Slovakia proposes to throw off the German yoke, which is symbolised by the existence of martial law throughout Slovakia. BRITISH METHOD OF WARFARE GERMAN ALLEGATIONS DISCUSSED “LEGITIMATE EXERCISE OF SEA POWER” (BBITXSB OFFICIAL WIRELESS.) RUGBY, September 29. It is significant of the great—and is miay well be conclusive—importance of economic warfare in the present conflict with Germany that so large a part of Nazi propaganda effort is directed to misrepresentation of British action in this respect, and to an attempt to justify the methods employed by the Nazi Government itself, which are violent, undiscriminating, and inherently likely to 'cause loss of life, while the British methods, pursued in the legitimate exercise of sea power, are directed to lawful ends and not aimed against human life or innocent cargoes. So far as British action against contraband trade is concerned, the instruments by which it is carried pn are such as permit full conformity with the laws of war and avoid loss of life or unnecessary damage. The difference between the German and British methods is one between what is essentially a weapon of ter- - 1 ror, even if wielded as it often is by men personally brave and gal- ! lant, on one hand, and on the other, ! a carefully regulated system of war- i fare under-the control of properly ; regulated courts. j German propaganda on this sub- } ject takes two principal forms. : There is first the assertion that Britain, by the inclusion of foodstuffs j on the list of conditional contra- , band, is conducting a blockade that ( is both inhuman and illegal. Second, * there is a suggestion that the Bri- j tish action is inimical and unfair to , neutral interests. i "Guns and Butter” < The first charge falls into two I parts—inhumanity and illegality. As < to inhumanity, it is to be remem- i bered that it was the Nazis who be- * gari, some years ago, to deny food ( to German women and children < from the day when Field-Marshal : Goering told them it was better to ; have guns than butter. It was , this fatal choice by the Nazi leaders that ; first caused the German people to : tighten their belts, and the same leadership that has plunged them ‘ and other peoples as well into war, , which is itself the great inhumanity. Starvation has been one of the consequences of warfare and one ot its weapons from the earliest times. Mr Chamberlain said in the House of Commons on . Tuesday: |No one ever suggested that a besieging commander should allow free rations -o town.” But it can be said that it is the Allies’ aim that when the war is over the German people should have fewer guns and more food, and, meanwhile, every effort 1 is made to minimise, wherever possible, the suffering of the non-com-.-latent enemy. , , . . .. •' As far as the second claim of the German propaganda is concerned, it is likely to be received with scepticism in neutral countries, where there is general recognition that the British, while conducting a war that has been forced upon them, seek and intend to safeguard the interests of neutrals, which are indeed, in many respects, identical with Britain’s own interests. “TWO SECTIONS IN EIRE” • ~ - ' % MR DE VALERA AFFIRMS NEUTRALITY LONDON, September 29. The Prime Minister of Eire (Mr Eamon de Valera), in the Dail, reiterated Eire’s neutrality, but admitted that there were two sections prepared to take sides, so that if the Government permitted it there would soon be such a flood of propaganda that an unpleasant situar tion would result. This would be prevented. ■ Nobody knew the type of world which would follow the end of the var, but it would be very different "rn to-day’s. TISH SHIP STRIKES BRITISH MINE ~V. • ■ -i ■'NDON, September 29.. "Hness of ■ British jimhe“'onstrated recemtly ship, pis- ■ instructions‘.’rv'f F^h.e