A FINAL APPEAL

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 78, 29 September 1938, Page 9

A FINAL APPEAL

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT

MESSAGE TO HERR HITLER

MEETING SUGGESTED

WASHINGTON, September 27. President Roosevelt tonight cabled 'to Herr Hitler appealing to Ger« many on broad humanitarian grounds to keep the negotiation* open. "Nothing stands in the way of widening tlie negotiations into a con« ference of all nationals directly interested in the controversy," he said. "Such a meeting could be held im» mediately in some neutral spot in Europe, and would offer an opportunity for this and correlated ejpestions to be solved in a spirit of justice and fair dealing. "The United States has no political involvement, in .Europe, and will assume no obligations in conducting the present negotiations. Yet in our own right we recognise our responsibiUtiei as part of the world of neighbours.* President Roosevelt, in acknowledge ing Herr Hitler's reply to his tele-

gram of September 26, said: "I wai confident >ou v would coincide in th« opinion I expressed regarding the unforeseeable consequences arid thei incalculable disaster which would result to the entire world from the outbreak . Of a European war. Resort to force h* the Great War failed to bring, tranquillity. Victory and defeat are alifc» sterile. LESSON THEY SHOULD HAVE LEARNT. "That is the lesson the world should have learnt, and for that reason above all others I addressed ,my appeal to your, Excellency and to the President of Czechoslovakia and the Prime Ministers of Britain and France. Tha points I sought to emphasise were, first, that all matters of difference between the German Government and Czechoslovakia" could, and should, b* settled by pacific methods, and secsondly, that the threatened alternative to the use of fonie on a scale likely to result in a general-war is as unnecessary as it is unjustifiable. "My conviction on these two. point* is deepened because responsible statesmen have officially stated that an agreement in principle (has. already been reached between the Government of the German Reich and the Government of Czechoslovakia, although the precise time and the method and de- • tail of carrying out the agreement remain at issue." ALL HELD ACCOUNTABLE. After putting forward the plan t» hold an international conference, Pre* . sident Roosevelt cqncluded:-r----"In my considered opiision;. and in the light of the experience of this country, continued negotiations re-., main the only way by which the imb- • mediate problem. can be disposed- of Upon any lasting basis. Should you agree to a solution -in this peaceful manner I am convinced hundreds -of millions throughout the world would. recognise your action as an.outstanding and historic service to all humanity. . "Allow me to state my unqualified conviction that history and the -Mils, of every man, woman, and child whit* lives would be lost in the threatened, war will hold all of as accountable should we omit any appeal for its prevention." It was stressed that this is the. last appeal the President intends tQ make. - Informed officials also declared that the United States will not participate, in any conference such as President Boosevelt suggested. President Roosevelt himself, by inference", disposed.of a suggestion by the French Premier that he should act as mediator. His message was cabled at 1Q pjn., after a day aftd evening of deliberation. It is presumed that the text Was . approved at an. earlier Cabinet meet* ing. It was only sent to Herr Hitler, indicating that the President places the r responsibility for world peace squarely on the Fuhrer. DOOR TO DIGNIFIED RETREAT. While the restraint shown in the message is disappointing to those anxious to see America take a stronger stand, the appeal is valuable in that Herr Hitler could use President Roose- | velt's intervention as the door to A.. i dignified', retreat. , It is felt in the presentl situation * that Germany will defy the rule that ■■ dictators cannot afford to-climb down. because a peaceful settlement of th* Sudeten question on the line of.the original British and French proposal would probably increase Herr Hitler** popularity with his compatriots more tha^war. The news that President Roosevelt's first appeal dominates the front pages of the Berlin morning newspapers is regarded as significant. Although pub. lication was delayed, the text of the message appears fully. If Herr Hitler does want peace with dignity, Washington is giving him the chance ofsaving his face.

President Roosevelt was gratified to^s receive spontaneous messages from the' ex-Presidents of Uruguay, Cuba, Peru, Brazil, Colombia, and Argentina approving his earlier peace plea.