PEACE OFFENSIVE?

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 February 1940, Page 7

PEACE OFFENSIVE?

r MR. WELLES’ MISSION . i WELCOMED BY NEUTRALS [by CABLE —PBESS ASSN. —COPYBIGHT.] LONDON, February 11.. President Roosevelt’s decision to send Mr. Sumner Welles to Europe is described in some quarters as the opening of a new peace’ offensive. The latest information, however, suggests that it is more concerned with neutrals than with the belligerents. It is stated, semi-officially, in Paris, that the mission is highly welcome, but there is no question of Mr. Sumner Welles acting as a mediator. The neutral press generally welcomes the mission, and commends its purpose. An exception is Italy, where it is considered that Mr. Roosevelt is too prejudiced in favour of the Allies. Official circles in London have learned with satisfaction of the forthcoming visit to London of Mr. Sumner Welles, sthtes a British official wireless message. They state that he can be certain of receiving a cordial welcome as the President’s representative and that he may be sure of receiving all the information with which the British Government can provide him in order to enable President Roosevelt to form a clearer view of the European situation. Mr. Welles and Mr. C. Myron Taylor, the President’s personal reprdSfentative at the Vatican, will sail for Italy on February 17. 1 The “Daily Telegraph” says: “The effects of five months of war. on .the determination of the British and French people must be well known to Mr. Roosevelt. He is not less able to judge what change of heart has occurred in Herr Hitler since August, when the President’s appeal to him to keep the peace had not the slightest effect and since November, when Queen Wilhelmina asked Hen- Hitler to take the first step towards peace, and he would not move one inch from the plunder he had seized. Mr. Roosevelt will also be well informed of the feeling aroused in neutral States of Europe by the brutality of German warfare, and will have perceived their movement towards consolidation in defence. The President’ must be’ well aware that we shall'not abate a letter of our terms for peace.”

U.S.A. AND NEUTRALS.

NEW YORK, February 11.

The "New York Times” Washington correspondent says:- A further statement by Mr. Hull'is regarded as clarifying Mr. Roosevelt’s peace efforts, emphasising that they are not directed at the securing of an immediate cessation of hostilities. Mr. Hull said that the. conversation with neutrals would be for the purpose of determining an equitable economic basis' for peace after the war has ended. He added that the United States was seeking for commitments from neutrals to principles for a programme of sound international relations, the United States believing that such relations, and a progressive curtailment of armaments would be the only means of avoiding wrld autarchy and world economic totalitarianism. He added that the conversation would be limited to achieving an agreement on these issues, and so creating solidarity when the peace conference comes. The U.S. Maritime Commission has approved the transfer of ten United States freighters of a total of 60,000 tons to British and French registries. LABOUR OBJECTIVE NAZIS MUST BE SMASHED. [BBITISH official wibeless.] ) RUGBY, February 10. After declaring that, in his opinion, the British Labour Party’s manifesto on war and peace would live in history as an objective statement of the causes of the war. the principles involved in it, and the purpose which should animate the peace, Mr. Herbert Morrison, secretary of the London Labour Party, speaking at Sheffield, said:

“With the people of France, we entered the war to smash the Nazi regime, which had become a nuisance to Europe generally, as well as a curse to Germany. We cannot compromise with that regime: we cannot make peace with it. Let it be understood that any mere reshuffling of Nazi personalities, as, for example the substitution of Herr Goering for Herr Hitler, will make no difference.. Nazi rule and Nazi blackmail must go. Let the German people recognise that fact. Let them recognise also that as far as they are parties to continuing to allow the Nazis in power, they will be sharing. the responsibility, with the Nazis, for the continuance of the war. “With no less emphasis, however, I wish to add this —that, if the German people destroy the Nazi Government and substitute an enlightened democratic regime, anxious to co-op-erate with other nations in the building of a free and tidy Europe, then the purpose of the war will have been served, and there will be no need for its continuance. Just as we must continue this struggle for the destruction of a tyrannical and abominable regime, until that end is attained, so we must be ready and indeed anxious for peace with the German nation, when that nation has achieved the prerequisites of a fundamental change in German policy, and has withdrawn its forces from territories'which Germany has no right to occupy. “Finally, British Labour appeals for an order in which justice and economic fair play will obtain, from which war will have been banished, and which will provide .the necessary [ means 'for the preservation of peace between nations.”