MESSAGE TO GERMANY

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23248, 7 February 1941, Page 9

MESSAGE TO GERMANY

WENDELL WILLKIE’S STATEMENT MR HOPKINS TO LEAVE FOR U.S. (Receivedi February 6, 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, February 5. Before leaving England for the United States, Mr Wendell Willkie issued a statement for transmission to Germany. “I am of purely German descent. My family name is Willcke,” he stated. "My grandparents left, Germany 90 years ago because they protested against autocracy and demanded the right to live as free men. I, too, claim that right. I am proud of my German blood, but I hale aggression and tyranny. “Tell the Gerrhan people that my convictions are fully shared by the overwhelming majority of Americans of German descent. They, too, believe in freedom and human rights. We German Americans reject and hate the aggression rind lust for power of the present German Government.” Mr Willkie told the correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain, who accompanied him on his tour, that he was positive that no Government effort had been made to show him only approved places. He said that when he saw men and women demonstrating against the system of food rationing he knew who these people were. He did not believe that they represented Britain. The correspondent states that Mr Willkie will tell America that Britain will win with American aid. It is believed that he is of the opinion that Britain is a good financial risk with certain restrictions. Before leaving, Mr Willkie said: “I have not seen everything in Britain I wanted to see, but I have seen plenty. I am sorry my visit has been cut short, but anything I can do back home to help I shall do. The people's courage is magnificent. Keep up your chins.” Within the next few days Mr Harry Hopkins. Mr Roosevelt's personal representative in Britain, will leave England for the United States. He will have been here for .a month and he will take back with him more knowledge of the inner workings and policy of the British Government and a more accurate estimate of the scope of the British war effort than any other visitor has achieved. When Mr Hopkins reports to Mr Roosevelt there will be few secrets of the War -Cabinet that he will not be able to repeat, he having, since January 9, attended conferences at Downing Street from which all but a few of the service chiefs are always excluded. The “News Chronicle” states that Mr Willkie will take home with him ; a wider and perhaps more detailed picture of the external situation—the fads I of Britain—and Mr Hopkins will know far more about the internal situation —the heart of Britain.