PEOPLES OF EUROPE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20031, 1 September 1939, Page 5

PEOPLES OF EUROPE

Crisis Reaching Peak BERLIN SUSPICIOUS OF LONDON Efforts With Poland For Conference TERMS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO WARSAW Grave View Taken Of Infringement Of Rights \ ""Wfi 5 . ... , (Klee. Tel. Copyright—Unitod Press Assn.) Reed. Sept. 1, 10.45 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 01. Europe again looks to Herr Hitler, but is now moic apprehensive as the crisis, in the words of the Paris pi ess, reaches the culminating point. The exact contents of Britain’s latest note to Germany arc a close secret, but it now seems certain that it will not be longbefore the world knows whether Herr Hitler’s uncompromising attitude will make war inevitable.

Whitehall circles to-day reiterated that the communique sent to Germany was of such a nature that a reply was to be expected. Herr Hitler’s message to Britain and Britain’s reply to Herr Hitler was sent, to Poland, but this did not mean that Herr Hitler’s message was approved by His Majesty’s Government. So /far there have been no direct contacts between Poland and Germany. The Paris press considers that the .crisis has reached a climax with the final decision remaining in Herr Hitler’s hands.

Authoritative quarters in Berlin suspect, that Britain is not making the best efforts to press the Poles to see ITerr Hitler. The state to-day represents the last chance for the Poles to go .to Berlin to tail over the situation. The general impression in Berlin to-day was that the situation could hardly he more serious. Hints emanating from the Wilhemstrasse are that if Poland does not yield, some degree of military co-operation with ,the Soviet will be sought. Herr Foerster, the Nazi leader in Danzig, left Berlin to-day.

“The establishment of the German Defence Council emphasises the Fuehrer’s determination not to retreat a hair’s-breadth from what Germany considers her just claims,” declares the Berlin journal Voelkischer Beobachter. The formation of the council is also apparently intended as Germany’s answer to the Polish mobilisation which German political circles describe as a “political manoeuvre” sabotaging the London-Berlin negotiations, proving that Poland does not want negotiations.

The Polish Foreign Office spokesman stated that Herr , -Hitler’s last communication to the British Foreign Office was not acceptable to Poland. Polish Government circles were taking a grave view of the situation as reports of infringements of Polish rights continued to be received. There was little light amid Europe’s gloom this morning. What little was discernible came from Rome, where Signor Mussolini was reported to be doing his utmost to prevent a fatal blow. Italian newspapers give the opinion that the crisis would spread from the German-Polish dispute to vastly wider questions, giving Italy and Germany a share of the ivorld’s wealth. This is in accordance with Signor Mussolini’s oft-repeated belief that a piecemeal settlement would not produce a lasting peace.

The Italian press now urges a European conference to tackle all outstanding ills, beginning from the assumption .that the Versailles Treaty must be scrapped. Such a conference would cover raw materials, colonics, communications and minorities.

The Rome correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain, says that Signor Mussolini and the Italian Foreign Minister Count Ciano, to-day were considerably concerned over the unyielding attitude of Britain, France,, and Poland, and therefore they are attempting to induce Herr Hitler to moderate his demands. It was still believed that Signor Mussolini would make a last conciliatory move, provided such was in Italy’s interests rather than to follow Germany to war. The French press was more pessimistic this morning. L’Epoque says: “The situation is definitely more tense. HenHitler has not renounced the intention of destroying Poland. More than ever Britain and France are determined not to betray their pledges, but despite everything the guns have not yet spoken. Our duty is to remain calm and confident. It is most important that Germany has wasted eight days of the war of nerves, thus enabling Britain, France and Poland to press on with military preparations.” Other French papers expressed the view that it was clearer than ever that the final decision rested with Herr Hitler, but they emphasised that a solution of the Danzig problem without a general settlement would not remove the danger of war. In London the continuation of measures already adopted is officially announced. The naval mobilisation is being completed and the remainder of the regular supplementary army reserves are being called up in addition to further Royal Air Force reserves.

ThejPope to-day sent a special urgent appeal to the leading Powers in Europe pleading with their Governments to make the most strenuous efforts to avoid war.