NAZI AGGRESSION

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 September 1940, Page 2

NAZI AGGRESSION

MR FRASER’S ADDRESS. [PER press association.] GISBORNE, September 17. “When the Munich Pact was signed in 1938 many of us thought that the Nazi leaders would accept appeasement, and that we could turn our attention to peaceful objectives, instead of living in the constant fear of being plunged into war. We know now that the Nazis are never satisfied, that, they grew more ravenous with every new success they gained, and that finally they determined to dominate the world by force,” said the Prime Minister (Mr Fraser), speaking to a large gathering at a civic welcome in Gisborne to-night. “A few months after the signing of the Munich Pact,-’ Germany marched over and crushed Czechoslovakia and then turned upon Poland. Denmark and Norway next came under the Nazi heel, and then came the turn of Holland and Belgium. These States had been implored by Britain and France to invite the Allies to come up to theft' frontiers with Germany; but they clung timidly to a policy of neutrality, hoping to appease the Nazis; but there was no appeasing the terror any more, and these coun- ’ tries went down swiftly. Next France crumpled, and Britain was left standing alone against the enemy. Thus was the battle of Britain commenced. “In this battle, not only the fate of the United Kingdom is at stake; but that ofi the world. In the grim fight now being waged in the skies over Britain, and in the waters that surround the United Kingdom, our ideals, hopes, and future are being defended. Though thousands of miles from that area where the bombs are dropping day and night upon our own flesh and blood, we are involved as much as though we were on the spot. New Zealand is proud to stand beside Great Britain and the other countries of the British Commonwealth, and make her contribution the great and lasting victory for right, and the crushing defeat for Nazism, Fascism, and every form of brutal and devastating tyranny.”

“MAORI REVOLT.”

WELLINGTON, September 17. German broadcast announcers have made an attempt to improve on the recent report from Rome announcing a “rebellion” in Wellington. The Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) has been advised by the New Zealand High Commissioner in London (Mr Jordan) that the latest effort from Berlin takes this form:

“News from Wellington reveals that an alarming revolt has broken out in New Zealand, and the Maoris have protested against military service on religious grounds on hearing that they would be sent overseas. News has just reached London from Wellington that an epidemic has broken out among the troops, which will in any event make it impossible for them to be sent overseas.” In his reply to Mr Jordan the Prime Minister says: “The baseless, and ridiculous report of a revolt among the Maoris of New Zealand will cause as much amusement as the earlier report from Rome that a rebellion had taken place in Wellington. It is well known that a Maori unit is overseas, and Maori reinforcements are already formed in New Zealand, and are eagerly awaiting the time when they will join their brothers. This should be sufficient refutation, if any were needed, to this stupid nonsense. While it is true that a slight epidemic of measels broke out among the troops, the situation was never serious, and is now well in hand.”