ONLY HOPE FOR PEACE

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 October 1939, Page 7

ONLY HOPE FOR PEACE

UNITED STATES INTERVENTION NAZI SPOKESMAN’S DECLARATION [RY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] NEW YORK, October 13. The Berlin correspondent of the Associated Press of America reports that Dr. Dietrich, the Nazi Press chief, after a conference with Herr Hitler early this morning’, declared that only one Power, the United States, could yet intervene to prevent a major Western war. He added that even now Herr Hitler would delay the order for a big Western offensive if any indication was forthcoming that Mr. Roosevelt would intervene. • • . Britain was relying on United States support, but the United States could end the war if she unequivocally told Britain that she would not support her unless efforts were first made to reach a settlement at the council table. A high Nazi authority, receiving a group of neutral journalists, said that the world was now faced with a blood bath, for which there was no need, if the existing problems were attacked along Herr Hitler’s lines. The only escape from carnage would be the intervention of a neutral Power, for which purpose the United States was well qualified. HITLER TAKES WAR MEASURES. Chamberlain has proved his re-

PEACE EFFORTS “TORPEDOED.” LONDON, October 13. A report from Berlin says that a Foreign. Office official said that the time for negotiation was now past, and the real war in the West would begin to-night. From Stockholm it is reported that the Berlin correspondent of the Swedish newspaper “Tidningen” says that Herr Hitler has decided that Mr Chamberlain’s speech constitutes a definite refusal of his peace offer. He therefore has taken ‘fall measures to prosecute the war.” Orders have already been issued to all large Rhineland towns to prepare for evacuation. The newspaper adds that Herr Hitler’s decision followed a. long conference at the Chancellery at which Herr Hitler and the Nazi leaders carefully studied Mr Chamberlain’s speech. Mr Chamberlain was considered to have “torpedoed Herr Hitlerfs peace efforts.” Berlin, therefore, believes that peace is no longer possible, and that the responsibility for continuing the war lies with Mr Chamberlain. GERMAN AERIAL THREAT. BERLIN, October 13Herr von Dietrich said: “Germany hitherto has not attempted to display her air prowess on the West Front.” He recalled' that in the German attack on the Polish city of Modlin, 800 power-diving bombers were unleashed. A similar number of these bbmbers, operating against the British ships, would do untold damage. “SILLIEST” STATEMENT. BERLIN, October 13. The High Nazi Official, earlier quoted as addressing neutral journalists, is apparently Dr. Dietrich, who said that Mr Chamberlain’s statement was the silliest ever made. An official German Press statement calls Mr Chamberlain a liar, and says that the British Empire was built up solely on force and lies.

NAZI PRESS COMMENT. “GERMAN PEOPLE INSULTED.” LONDON, October 13. . The Berlin correspondent of the British United Press says that the official “Diplomatische Korrespondenz” declares: “Mr Chamberlain has interpreted as weakness the goodwill which the German people through the Fuehrer’s mouth showed to'the. British and French peoples. Herr Hitler’s readiness for peace was prompted by a genuine sense of European responsibility, but Mr Chamberlain I answered it by shamefully insulting the German people and' their leaders.” It adds: “The German people honestly desired to come to terms with Britain, and even to live in friendship on the basis that each should work in its own sphere undisturbed by the other. , “Britain envies the German people its benevolent fate. Filled with jealousy, Britain strives to calumniate the Reich for the purpose afterwards of annihilating it. Germany has not forgotten what she must, expect from her Western adversaries, but she has learned her lesson and knows the road she must travel to destroy the aims of her enemies.” The German official radio fiercely assails Mr Chamberlain. It add's: “England wants to destroy Germany and the German nation. Her warmongers want to fight Germany. So we shall show them how to fight.” The “Voelktscher Beobachter” says: “The speech of Mr Chamberlain was inspired by the international criminal warmongers.” The “Allgemeine Zeitung’ says:

sponsibility for war.” The official German news agency, in a long diatribe, says that Mr Chamberlain. has left the impression that Britain desires war, irrespective of anything that. Germany may say or offer. UNITED STATES ATTITUDE. FORMAL REQUESTS NECESSARY (Received October 14. 10 a.m.) NEW' YORK. October 13. The Washington correspondent of the Associated Press of America I states: The German suggestion that ■the United States should advise Britain to meet Germany in a conference, [has found the Capitol apparently con'vinced that the step is diplomatically - impossible l , until and unless formal [requests for such a move are made. [The fact that the latest German suggestion has been voiced by the Nazi [Press chief, Dr. Dietrich, instead of [the previous indirect method of com,mc.nt in the controlled German Press, has made little impression on Washington officialdom. There is reason to believe that, even [should Germany submit the suggestion through formal diplomatic channels, additional steps would be necessary before the United States would undertake mediation. It was assumed that the United States would first sound out privately the British and French Governments, before accepting any peacemaking role. It was authoritatively pointed out that the United States had always taken up the position of being ready and willing to help Europe to reach a general understanding on economic and disarmament questions, but does not intend being drawn into European political disruptions. Mr. Roosevelt declined to comment on Dr. Dietrich’s statement, saying that it was made without the official word of the German Government.-

FRENCH CABINET MEETING. PARIS, October 13. The French Cabinet met at 10 a.m. M. Daladier gave an outline of the whole situation, and’ was complimented. After M. Daladier made his statement’on the war position, the President (M. Lebrun) thanked him for expressing, in a. recent speech, the unanimous feelings and will of the whole French nation. The French Press praises Mr Chamberlain’s speech, singling out his declaration that the war must continue unless Germany gives effective guarantees for peace. GERMANY AND RUSSIA. LONDON, October 13. The British United Press Berlin correspondeftit says: Well-informed Nazis predict early German-Russian consultations, into which Italy may also be drawn, for the purpose of a joint declaration. SOVIET BROADCASTS SUMMARY. MOSCOW, October 13. The Soviet wireless transmitted a long and remarkably impartial summary of Mr Chamberlain’s speech, this being in marked contrast to its silence over Herr Hitler’s Reichstag speech. ITALIAN VIEWPOINT. ROME, October 13. Mr Chamberlain’s speech has caused no surprise in Rome. With a shrug of the shoulders, authoritative Italian circles recall that Herr Hitler’s alternatives are peace or a war of extermination. Italian circles consider that further peace overture’s are now unnecessary, and are excluded. It is reiterated that Italy’s neutrality remains unchanged.