COMMENT IN BRITAIN

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22851, 26 October 1939, Page 9

COMMENT IN BRITAIN

ALLIES UNMOVED BY

SPEECH

“WILL CONTINUE ON

THEIR COURSE”

CTOITED PRESS 18SOCIATIOS—COPTRIGHT.) (Received October 25, 10 p.m.) LONDON, October 24. "The Times” publishes the following official London reaction to Herr von Ribhentrop’s speech: "Britain and France contemplate this latest effusion from Germany unmoved. Their standpoint has been made abundantly clear In Mr Chamberlain’s and M. Daladler’s recent speeches.

"It is evident from his speech that Herr von Ribbentrop is still far from comprehending it, and both countries will therefore continue on the course they have set themselves until the German Government’s attitude undergoes a change.”

The Paris newspaper “Le Temps* states that in trying to divide France and Britain. Herr Hitler is wasting his time."

According to a British Official Wireless message, responsible opinion takes the view that the speech introduces no new element into the situation, nor is it considered to have any particular importance;, composed, as it would seem to be, for internal consumption in Danzig and Germany. As observers in London see It, it is felt that the same attempts are being made to divide Britain from. France and the same stupid falsehood is being continued about the aggressive intentions of Britain—intentions wjiich, as everyone outside Germany fully understands, exist only in the imagination of the Nazi Government.

In desperate efforts to maintain the German people in isolation from the truth, Herr von Ribbentrop doCs not, it is commented, hesitate to spread falsehoods about Mr Chamberlain’s policy at the time of Munich, which may well be thought too stupid to deceive even the most credulous.

It is pointed out that British policy has been made clear by the official documents which have been made public in recent weeks. These documents have been carefully kept from the Germans, but they have been the subject of exhaustive • study throughout the rest of the world. The British Government, it is thought, will be well content to allow the world to form its own view, now that its case has been made public as to whether Britain and France on the one hand r Germany on the other is the aggressor in th* present war.

REACTIONS IN

ROME

“NO HOPE OP HALTING

THE WAR”

NEED SEEN FOR STRICT

NEUTRALITY

(Received October 25, 10 pun.)

NEW YORK, October*24.

The Rome correspondent of the “New York Times” says that Herr von Ribbentrop’s speech, like Herr Hitler’s Reichstag speech, has served to convince Italians that there is no hope of halting the war, and that therefore they had better keep out even more rigidly than before.

, Italians listening to the broadcast of Herr von Ribbentrop’s speech noted a lack of cheering when friendship between Italy and Germany was mentioned. On the other hand, when Russia was mentioned the crowd applauded long and loudly. Thus Italy has been shown again that the Berlin-Moscow axis means more to Germany at present than the Rome-Berlin axis. Italians were glad to hear the reiteration of Herr Hitler’s declaration that he wants no more territory in Europe and appreciated the complimentary references to Italy. Beyond that, the speech would have left Italians indifferent if it were not for the demonstration of bitterness towards Britain killing any hopes of peace.

GERMAN PRISONERS

IN BRITAIN

NO QUESTION YET OP EXCHANGE

(Received October 25, 7 pjn.)

LONDON. October 24.

It was stated in the House of Lords yesterday that 110 German sailors and airmen were interned as prisoners of war in Britain. As there was only an insignificant number of British airmen prisoners in Germany, no question of the exchange of prisoners so far arose. Four more German airxrien brought down in the raid on the Firth of Forth were rescued from the North Sea. Two, who had been afloat in a collapsible boat for three days, were picked up fay a British warship. The others were landed in South Zeeland from a Danish fishing boat. A British ship rescued and landed three more German airmen from another wrecked bomber. It is understood they were shot down by a warship. The fourth airman was dead when discovered.