HONEYED TONE OF PAPEN

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 47, 19 November 1941, Page 7

HONEYED TONE OF PAPEN

Wants Wiser Counsels

SPANISH NEWSPAPER INTERVIEW (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Received November 18, 8.10 p.m.) BARCELONA, November 17. Both sides spoke too much about an ideological war and threatened not to cease fighting till the enemy was annihilated; therefore, it was incomprehensible to perceive how an invitation to lay down arms, could be accepted, said the Nazi Minister, to Turkey, Herr von Papen, at Ankara in an interview published in the “Vanguardia.” Von Papen said he hoped that the “growing difficulties, and the prolongation of the war against the Communists and their extermination, will bring wiser counsels to all Governments.” He added that Britain was obliged to put forth enormous efforts to carry on the war when the conclusion of the Eastern campaign imperilled the Empire’s bastions. It was laughable, he said, to attribute President Ineunu’s recent conferring on Turkey the role of peace mediator to German pressure or wishes. Von Papen is also reported to have told “Vanguardia’s” representative that the Russian campaign was extremely costly on both sides, and that Turkey would be expected to give Germany certain transit facilities for an attack on Egypt. Denials in Berlin. LONDON, November 17.

Official German sources are bitterly denying all knowledge of the interview said to have been given last week bv von Papen to the Ankara correspondent of the ‘‘Vanguardia.” Reports from other correspondents in Ankara show that the interview was intended only for Spain. Tonight the Hungarian radio broadcast Wilbelmstrasse comments on the matter, and Berlin officials say. that everyone is surprised over the interview.

NAZI MANOEUVRE

Significance Of Interview

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received November 18, 7 p.m.)

RUGBY, November 17. In view of the recent repudiation by the Wilhelmstrasse of the reported German intention of launching a peace offensive, the interview given by the Nazi Ambassador to Turkey to neutral journalists in which von Papen anticipated an armistice and Turkish mediation is viewed with interest in'London. The interview clearly reveals hesitation and uncertainty in German policy in the face of a third winter of war, with the Russian campaign still without any signs of finishing. Von Papen is reported to have uttered threats to> Britain if she refused an armistice and. to the occupied countries if they declined to assist Germany iu her aims. This would seem to confirm a belief held in London that Germany has put, or intends to put, pressure on the European neutrals in connexion with Germany’s projected peace plans. Another interesting point is his reported reference to the likelihood of Germany’s exhaustion as a result of the Russian campaign and the implied admission that sli£ will be in no position to exploit Russian resources immediately. The possibility that von Papen was attempting to present the picture of a weakened, exhausted Germany in order to induce neutrals to relax their vigilance over German moves and such precautions as they have taken against involvement in the war has not escaped notice.

Deception Unlikely.

It would be strange, however, in view of Germany’s past record toward neutrals if they were deceived by these moves. Ou the other hand, provided that the neutrals relax nothing of their vigilance or precautionary measures, it is clear that the weakened and more exhausted Germany becomes the stronger will be the position of the neutrals to resist the German demands of assistance.

Von Papon’s threat that the new order will be Imposed on Europe by force and starvation if necessary, besides making clear the sort of life which must, be expected to result from a Nazi victory shows that the Nazis are themselves under no illusions as to the unpopularity of their new order or as to the possibility of its unopposed acceptance.