Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1939. HITLER ANSWERED.

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 October 1939, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1939. HITLER ANSWERED.

’’J’HERE was never any real doubt regarding the general tone of the Allies’ reply to the peace, proposals put forward by Herr Hitler, and it is exceedingly questionable whether the Fuehrer himself had any confidence in the success of his attempted bluff. The boastful nature of his references to the campaign against Poland merely added insult to injury. while throughout his speech in the Reichstag there was an entire absence of the spirit of sincere conciliation which might have been expected if he had at heart the interests of peace in Europe. On the contrary, he restricted himself almost wholly to a glorification of the Nazi policy of aggression, and predicted ultimate victory for German arms. If he believed that prediction to be well founded, it is extremely unlikely, in view of the dictator’s past record, t hat he would, halt for a moment in his warlike activities; thus it is obvious that he was talking merely for the purpose of endeavouring to keep up the illusions of the German people. knowing in his own mind that, in rousing the Allies to action. he had bitten off a good deal more than he. could chew. The spectacle of Herr Hitler proclaiming his desire for peace, when by his ([('liberate actions he became responsible for the outbreak of th< 1 war, constituted ample proof that he fears the future, and that he realises that the Nazi regime is at last faced with the consequences of the campaign of persecution. violence, and aggression which it has waged in the past few vears. •

World opinion as a whole is setting more and more against. Herr Hitler, and no neutral Power made a move to act as mediator in submitting the proposals to the Allies—not even his erstwhile Axis friend, Italy,—while the United States also held aloof, pending the clarification of the Allied viewpoint. In his broadcast speech to the nation, Al. Daladier left no room for misapprehension so far as the attitude of France is concerned. Peace talk from the Nazis, he declared, meant a peace that would merely consolidate the victories of cunning or violence, leaving the door open for further aggression under more-favourable circumstances. Making the position doubly clear, M. Daladier asserted, “We are fighting, and shall continue to fight, for a definite guarantee against aggression. .... it is a just task, and I shall pursue it until victory.” There is none so blind as will not see that the Allies are fighting for the decencies of international relations against a dictator who recognises no rights or interests except those of the Reich; one who is working to a grandiose plan for the complete domination of Central and South-eastern Europe; one hoping to extort by force compliance with his demands, and relying on the threat of war as his chief instrument of policy. It was to put an end to such a plan that the democracies entered the conflict forced upon them. Formidable stumblingblocks in the path of the acceptance of the vague and unsatisfactory proposals put forth by Herr Hitler are his actions- in connection with the Rhineland, Austria, the Sudctenland, Bohemia, Moravia, Memel, and Poland, while his lengthy record of broken pledges and. repudiated agreements has resulted in the firm conviction that he is not for a moment to be trusted.

If any further proof of the Allied attitude were required, it has now been plainly given by Mr. Chamberlain, whose reply was made after full consultation with France and the British Dominions. Tt is clear and convincing, showing that, although Europe has been very patient with Herr Hitler, the limit has been reached. The Powers are tired of his policy of Undermining the independence of neighbouring States by fomenting revolt within their borders, of endeavouring to impose his control over the economic resources of those smaller neighbours and to dictate their political relations with other States, of piling up masses of troops upon, their frontiers and threatening annihilation if they do not yield, of repudiating within a few weeks or months the grudging concessions he made in return for surrender, and at each step making further resistance more difficult. Such a state of affairs could not be allowed to continue without some attempt being made to end it. The writing was plainly on the wall, before Herr Hitler took the final step in hurling his troops against Poland, but he chose deliberately to ignore it. He cannot evade the consequences by making an appeal for peace over the ruins of the Polish nation, and it is not for him to say when the war, which he began, shall be ended. Herr Hitler has received the answer he deserves. He is now faced with the choice of “fighting to a finish,” or giving effective guarantees of his peaceful intentions.