PROCLAMATION BY HITLER

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23882, 26 February 1943, Page 5

PROCLAMATION BY HITLER

BELIEF IN “MISSION”

CRISIS IN NAZI PARTY ADMITTED (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 24. In a proclamation read at the Nazi Party’s birthday celebrations at Munich, Hitler said: “I shall never abandon the leadership, since I have every reason to believe that mine is a mission of Fate and that I have been chosen by Providence. How else could it have been possible to force all the occupied countries of Europe to. work and fight for Germany against Russia and the other Allied nations? We consider it quite natural not to spare alien lives at a time when such sacrifices are demanded of us.” Hitler admitted that the party was going through a crisis. “But it will i. merge stronger than ever,” he said. Hitler also said: “I am the same fanatic as formerly. I have borne worries which no doubt would have broken any weaker character.”

U.S. ASSISTANCE TO CHINA

STATEMENT BY MADAME CHIANG KAI-SHEK (Rec. 8 p.m.) WASHINGTON. Feb. 24. “China does not want anything for which she cannot pay, and does not want the United Slates to feed the Chinese after the war,” said Madame Chiang Kai-shek at a press conference in Washington. Illustrating China’s attitude, she said it was difficult to persuade even hungry people to accept free food at rice stations in the devastated areas. The Chinese used other people’s possessions reluctantly. Nevertheless, the Chinese appreciated the spirit of friendliness prompting relief measures. At the same time, the Chinese felt that China was contributing her full part in the global war. Madame Chiang Kai-shek declared: "China wants aeroplanes and everything to maintain them, repair parts, petrol, ammunition, and heavy arms. She attributed the endurance with which the Chinese had withstood years of warfare to the fact that China was a very old nation whose people realised that spiritual values were eternal. “Everyone of us can live a comparatively few years, .but the nation will go on,” she said.

VISIT TO BRITAIN BY MADAME CHIANG

(8.0. W.) RUGBY, Feb. 24. The Foreign Secretary (Mr R, A. Eden) informed the House of Commons that an invitation to visit Great Britain had been extended to Madame Chiang Kai-shek towards the end of last year, and had been repeated since. He understood that her health now permitted her to make definite plans, and he had ewery reason to believe—and every reason to hope—that she would visit Britain.

CHINA DENOUNCES TREATY FRENCH LEASE OF KWANGCHOWWAN (Rec. 10.30 p.m.) CHUNGKING. Feb. 24. China has denounced the treaty of 1899 under which France leases Kwangchowwan. In a Note delivered to the French Embassy, the Chinese Foreign Minister (Mr T. V. Soong) said that the treaty provided that China’s sovereignty must not be affected by the lease. He added that the French did not resist the' Japanese occupation. China, therefore, reserved the right to claim compensation.

CHINESE SUCCESSES IN HUPEH CHUNGKING, Feb. 24. ‘‘The Chinese in Hupeh Province have wiped out or driven out the Japanese from the garrisons of Liuchiaheng and Pailichow, and a Japanese column was thrust back along the north bank of the Yangtse,” says a Chinese commumKwangtung Province the Chinese recaptured Suiki on Saturday, but two days later the Japanese returned strongly reinforced and heavy fighting ensued.”

Unity Among Arabs.—Asked in the House of Commons if steps were being taken to promote greater political and economic co-operation between the / rab States with a view to creating an Arab Federation in the Middle East, the foreign Secretary (Mr R. A. Eden) said that the Government would view with sympathy any movements among the Arabs to promote unity, but the initiative would have to come from the Arabs.—London, February 24. Fire in Newfoundland.—“Of incendiary origin” was the verdict of Mr Justice Bunfield after the investigation into the fire in the Knights of Columbus Hostel, in Newfoundland, on December 12. when 100 persons, mostly servicemen, lost Jtheir lives. The judge said he believed, but could not prove, that the fire was caused deliberately.— St John’s (Newfoundland), Feb. 24.

MR CHURCHILL S RECOVERY

ILLNESS SAID TO HAVE BEEN SERIOUS (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

(.Rec. 11 p m.) LONDON, Feb. 25. It is understood in London that Mr Churchill has had a'nother good night, and that the improvement in his condition is maintained. An earlier report said that it was understood that Mr Churchill was now well on the road to recovery. His temperature was normal. The political writer of the “Evening Standard” says it can now be revealed that Mr Churchill has been seriously ill. His medical advisers are of the opinion that he is “out of the wood,” but they have advised him to take a rest before resuming work. A report from No. 10 Downing Street yesterday said: “Pneumonia clearing.” It was the first time that pneumonia had been mentioned.

“RESPONSIBILITY GANDHI’S”

MR CHURCHILL’S VIEW

OF FAST

LONDON, Feb. 24. Mr Churchill, in a message to Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru, said that the responsibility for Mr Gandhi’s fast must rest entirely on Mr Gandhi himself. There could be no justification for discrimination between Mr Gandhi and the other Congress leaders. The Washington correspondent of the “New York Times” reports that two former missionaries from India were arrested when they picketed the British Embassy in Washington, protesting against the arrest of Mr Gandhi and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Both the missionaries declined to offer bail and announced that they would fast for eight days in gaol.

SOCIAL SECURITY FOB BRITAIN

REPORT DISCUSSED BY

HOUSE OF LORDS LONDON, Feb. 24. Strong demands for the immediate establishment of a Ministry of Social Security were made when the House of Lords debated the Beveridge Report. Lord Nathan (Labour) asked: “Is it the Government’s intention to give the prevention of want A 1 priority in the post-war world? Will the Government create at once a Ministry of Social Security? Are men and women still to be expected to bring themselves to a subsistence level by voluntary contributions or by private insurance?” Lord Lang of Lambeth—the former Archbishop of Canterbury—described the report as “one of the greatest State documents of my time,” and as “epochmaking.” Both he and Lord Samuel advocated the appointment of a Minister of Social Security. Viscount Bennett, the former Prime Minister of Canada, suggested that the whole of the nation’s energies should be concentrated on winning the war, without which there would be no social security for anyone. Lord Simon said that whatever might be the denunciation addressed to the Government, it would be utterly wrong if the Government consented to be bustled by national enthusiasm for this immense project. While he put social security very high, it was only a portion of the problems in the post-war field meriting consideration. A Minister of Social Security would involve a new staff composed of experts from Ministries now dealing with various aspects to be covered by the report, and would weaken those Ministries, he said. The business-like thing to do was to proceed with the existing Ministry, which was devoting intense application to the various sides of the whole process. Lord Simon added: "We in this country can take pride in having formulated and developed social security schemes before anyone else. It would be a grave error to regard the system of insurance and compensation as all that ought to be meant by social security.” Labour Party Resolution

The national executive of the Labour Party, after a discussion of the House of Commons debate on the Beveridgf Report, reaffirmed the resolution adopted by the National Council of Labour on December 17, approving the principles of the report and calling on the Government for early legislation to give general effect to the report. The general council of the Trades Union Congress, after considering the circumstances arising from the Parliamentary debate on the Beveridge Report, has issued the following statement: “While reaffirming the previous declarations in support of the principles of the Beveridge Report, the council expresses confidence in the Labour members of the Government.” The Parliamentary Labour Party, at a full meeting, discussed the differences involved in last week’s division in the Commons on the report. Mr C. R. Attlee and Mr Herbert Morrison defended the Labour Ministers’ action on the report. Only one of those present suggested that the Ministers should leave the Government, and he found no support. The meeting was quiet and no vote of confidence or vote of censure was suggested.

LABOUR MINISTER AND PARTY

MR BEVIN’S ATTITUDE (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON. Feb. 24. “The Minister of Labour (Mr Ernest Bevin) has caused consternation among leading Labour members by refusing to attend a meeting of the Labour Party until the situation arising from the Labour vote against the Government on the Beveridge Report is cleared up,” says the political correspondent of the “Daily Mail.” “Mr Bevin, who did not attend to-day’s meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party, believed that the party’s’ attitude was tantamount to a disavowal of the Labour Ministers.”