PRE-WAR ACTIVITY

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 October 1939, Page 8

PRE-WAR ACTIVITY

BERLIN EVENTS DESCRIBED SIR N. HENDERSON’S REPORT [BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] LONDON, October 17. Th© final report of the activity in Berlin in the days before the outbreak of war, prepared by the British Ambassador in Berlin (Sir Nevile Henderson), has been issued in London in the form of a White Paper. This White Paper describes the circumstances leading to the outbreak of war and Sir Nevile is able tq give fuller details of some points in the interests of historical accuracy. He also comments freely and gives his interpretation of the events which led to war. , „ In sketching the background ot political philosophy he pays a tribute to-Herr Hitler’s social reforms and declares that but for Herr Hitlei unscrupulous and hateful methods ot bringing unity to the German people his actions might have endured. „ “Revolutions are like avalanches, commented Sir Nevile. “Once they have been set in motion they cannot be stopped.” The parting of the ways came on March 15, when Herr Hitler occupied Prague and later events caused Poland to warn Germany that any further intervention would be considered an act of aggression. “By his ruthless suppression of the Czechs, the captain of the German ship of State hoisted the skull and crossbones of the pirate, cynically discharged his own theory of racial purity, and appeared under his true colours as an unprincipled menace to European peace and liberty,” says Sir Nevile Henderson. He adds: “Herr Hitler was disagreeably astonished at the world’s reaction to his breach of faith with Mr. Chamberlain. Poland’s warning that intervention in Danzig would be regarded as aggression, produced Herr Hitler’s final brainstorm, but the major disaster wafis ■Field-Marshal von Blomberg’s marriage to his typist. It caused a crisis in the army and caused Herr Hitler, to sack 14 generals, including General von Fritsch, who was recently reported to have been assassinated in Poland.

“Those dismissed represented the most moderate of Herr Hitler’s advisers. Herr Hitler, after they went, became more- and more excluded from external influences and a law unto himself.

HITLER’S “YES-MEN.” “Simultaneously with. Herr Hitler’s loss of the services of his best men, all opposition becomes 1 intolerable to him. All those bold enough to express opinions contrary to his views are shed, one by one until he is surrounded, by mere ‘yes-men,’ whose flattery and counsels are alone endurable.” Sir Nevile Henderson said he had gathered the impression that Herr Hitler, corporal of the last war, was anxious to prove what he could do as a conqueror in the next. He had reason to believe that the order to the Germany army to enter Poland, was actually given the night after Hen* von Ribbentrop returned from his visit to Moscow. It had not been the thought of the horrors of war that had deterred Herr Hitler in the final days before Poland was entered, but a last attempt to detach Britain from Poland. Herr Hitler, Sir Nevile; added, had shown a complete failure to understand the British sense of morality. The Italian Government had made an effort to restrain Herr Hitler from war and the work of the Italian Foreign Minister (Count Ciano) was warmly praised. The remarkable scene in which Herr von Ribbentrop gabbled through the German “demands” to Poland was described in detail by Sir Nevile, who said it seemed to him that Herr von Ribbentrop was wilfully throwing away the last chance of a peaceful solution. Sir Nevile Henderson believes that the malignity of the influence of Herr von Ribbentrop, Dr. Goebbels, and Herr Himmler is exaggerated. FieldMarshal Goering would have preferred a peaceful solution, but Herr Hitler's decision alone counted. “One of Herr Hitler's greatest drawbacks is that he has never travelled,' except for two visits to Italy. Consequently, he has relied on Herr von Ribbentrop for his knowledge of British mentality. Herr von Ribbentrop consistently and falsely counselled him. “Moreover, if anything counted, it was the opinion of his military advisers. They urged him even on the week between August 25 and September 1 to secure British neutrality or at least goodwill regarding Poland, but possibly this was a cover for his own plans.” Herr von Ribbentrop, on the day war was declared, handed Sir Nevile a long document refusing the British demands. Sir Nevile Henderson commented after reading the document: “This is a completely false representation of events. It will be left to history to judge where the blame realby lies.” Herr von Ribbentrop replied: “History has already proved the facts.”

His final impression, concluded Sir Nevile, was of the great sympathy and assistance he and his staff had received from the American Embassy.