PRAISE OF NAZIS

Grey River Argus, 22 September 1936, Page 5

PRAISE OF NAZIS

BY LLOYD GEORGE FORMIDABLE ARMY Only for Defence FEAR OF RUSSIA. '’Aust & N.Z. Cable A«sm.) (Received Sept. 21 at 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, September 20. “Germany does not desiie to attack any country in Europe! Herr Hitler is arming for defence, and not for attack,’’ said Rt. Hon. D. Lloyd George, during a five-column interview which he has had with the “News-Chron-icle’’. The interview is one containing his impressions of his recent visit to Germany. Air. Lloyd George added: “Aly conviction is' that for at least ten years, war between Russia and Germany will be impracticable. Even if Germany desired war —which she doesn’t—the Germany army could be ready only in that time. It at present is a formidable army for defence, owing to the splendid spirit of the men and to the first class equipment and the powerful Eastern ami Western fortifications; but the German army could not march across the frontiers with the hope of success, as it docs not possess the weapons, the trained officers and the trained men for such an enterprise. “Herr Hitler admitted to someone whom I met that the German army would not be an attacking force lor from fifteen to twenty years.

“Herr Hitler has a fanatical hatred of Bolshevism, but ho scoffs at the suggestion that he intends to march on Moscow, or that he covets the Ukraine. “Although Herr Hitler naturally wants both Alemcl and Danzig, which are German, as Hull is English, he does not desire to absorb millions of the Slavs, whom he despises, and he would regal'd it as offending agaiust racial purity. ’ ’ Air. Lloyd George continued: “T think that' there is the genuine apprehension of a Russian attack. On tho other hand, a very able German soldier told lie that Russia.’* hopelessly-defec-tive transport organisation makes a Russian invasion of Germany of any magnitude an impossibility for ten vears.

“It is a great misfortune that European democracies are not producing great leaders. The dictators arc acting, while democratic leaders are fumbling. I am convinced, that a strong executive in Britain could accomplish much more than Herr Hitler is doing in Germany, owing to our greater financial resources, and our Parliament would respond to a strong executive. ITerr Hitler profoundly admires the British, and Germans of all classes share in his admiration, desiring British friendship. Germans repeatedly said to me: ‘We had only one quarrel with England, and we must never have another. ’ ’’