HITLER INTERVIEWED

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 61, 12 March 1936, Page 9

HITLER INTERVIEWED

REASONS; EOR; ACTION

, END TO INTOLERABLE

TENSION

SERVICE TO EUROPE A PEACE

LONDON, March 10,

"My proposal for the conclusion of non-aggression pacts on the east and west of Germany applies equally to Czechoslovakia and Austria," said HenHitler hi an interview with Mr: Ward Price, "Daily Mail" correspondent, at Munich. "My proposal was meant to be universal and without exception," he continued. "My feeling is that pacts are more efficiently negotiated by direct dealings between the Governments concerned. Germany, however, will certainly be only too glad if other Powers—for instance, Britain—come forward as honest brokers with practical propositions for solutions of these matters." Asked whether Germany was prepared to maintain her offer until after the French elections, Herr Hitler,said: "There is no reason to fix a time limit, but if .the proposals, like so many preceding ones, are rejected or ignored, the German Government will .not importune Europe with further overtures." NO OFFENSIVE INTENT. Asked whether he would voluntarily limit the Rhineland troops to a force manifestly insufficient for offensive action against France, Herr Hitler replied that there could be no question of a concentration for offensive purposes because Germany had no, further claims to make from France, nor would she make any. Moreover, the task for the future was to see that neither France nor Germany felt herself threatened. Mr. Price suggested that had Herr Hitler made his proposals first and demanded demilitarisation, as a counterpart the world would have accepted with enthusiasm. Recalling the fate of his offer to limit the German army to 300,000 men, Herr Hitler said: "I dare say the pre* posals in that form would have received the world's approval, but I don't believe thsy would ever ' have reached the conference table. It is not possible for one party to a treaty to transgress its sense and letter without the other party in consequence liberating himself from his engagements. That is what I have done." He added that he believed French and British statesmen in similar circumstances would act similarly. "The verdict of posterity will not, contest that. It is more honourable to end a state of intolerable tension in order to clear the way for a development desired by the whole world rather than to maintain an unbearable state of affairs. I believe that if the proposals are accepted it will later be realised that they have rendered a great service to Europe and the cause of peace." WILL KEEP ALL REASONABLE PACTS. Dr. Goebbels, Minister of Propaganda, in an election address, frankly declared that Germany knew she was breaking the Versailles Treaty when she began building up armaments, but she did so because other signatories to the Treaty had not disarmed. Germany did not want to destroy the