PEACE TALK

Grey River Argus, 30 November 1943, Page 5

PEACE TALK

REPORTS IN LONDON German Feeler in U.S.A. [Aust. & N.Z. Press Assn.] (Rec. 11.50) LONDON, Nov. 29. “The Daily Mail says: Unconfirmed reports reached London at the week-end, mainly from Sweden and Switzerland, stating that the Germans were contemplating a peace approach to the United Nations. A “Daily Express” correspondent on the Italian frontier quotes reports saying that “important personalities” had arrived at the Vatican during the past forty-eight hours. It was said that one visitor was Herr von Papen (the German Ambassador to Turkey), who has been in Berlin recently for consultations. It was suggested that he was carrying out negotiations of the highest importance at the Vatican. Stocks Fail in New York PRECAUTIONARY SELLING. (Rec. 7.50.) NEW YORK, Nov. 28. A correspondent of the United Press of America says: One thousand million dollars sheared from Stock Market valuations last week, when the prices of stocks declined in precautionary “early peace” selling movements. > The correspondent explains that persistent rumours of an impending important announcement by United Nations leaders, as well as tlm blitz against Berlin, and continued favourable developments on all fronts stimulated “peace thinking” in market quarters, and generated precautionary liquidations. Allied Leaders’ Attitude TOWARDS GERMANY NEW YORK, Nov. 29. According to the New York “Times” London correspondent, the three Allied leaders are already agreed on the following, principles for the treatment of Germany: (1) Germany must be converted into a battlefield before she will cease invading her neighbours. (2) Germany, after surrender, must be totally occupied and administered by Allied military authority. (3) Germany’s war making capacity must be controlled for years to come. The correspondent adds: “This means not only that the German army must be destroyed, Nazi criminals punished, and their organisation destroyed, but also that Germany’s heavy industry and her raw materials must be controlled. The three Powers have agreed that Germans will learn best by suffering, and that, consequently, war must be carried as far into the Reich..as possible. > Germany’s Economic, Power ITS DESTRUCTION ADVOCATED (Rec. 1.10) NEW YORK. Nov. 29. The New York “Herald Tribune’s” correspondent at Atlantic City says: Pieter Kerstens. Netherlands member of the U.N.R.R.A. Council, told the press that destruction for all time of Germany’s position as a major economic power was envisaged in discussions which some representatives of Europe’s occupied nations had already begun in London. These discussions seek, he said, to discover how much of Germany’s share in the economic life of Europe must be abolished, and how that share is to be divided among European nations after the war. Mr Kerstens pointed out that these were his views, and not those of Governments. He added: “Germany should be deprived of her enormous industrial capacity, whereon war Power is based, and should be allowed only enough economic strength to live. He asserted- that Germany had the productive wealth of the Rhine and Silesian districts to fight seven wars within 150 years. The Associated Press interprets these views as meaning that invaded nations will arrive at the peace conference ready to strin Germany to an economy which will be . nothing more than a bare living within her own borders. German Claim MILITARY DECISION SOUGHT (Rec. 11.50) LONDON, Nov. 29. A commentator of the German News Agency said: Simultaneously with the terror attacks against Berlin. the British have launched a propaganda campaign aimed at proving that the Germans are ready to surrender. Journeys abroad by German non-political personages are being interpreted as peace-feelers, to say nothing of a special role which rumours again ascribe to the Vatican. “The whole Reich is imbued with the conviction that the conflict between Europe and her deadly enemies demands a clear decision, which will be brought about by Germany and her allies, in spite of terror raids and propaganda lies.” Secret German Weapon REPRISALS FOR RAIDS (Rec. 1.10) STOCKHOLM, Nov. 29. George Schroeder, the Europa Press chief, in a statement quoted by the German-controlled Scandinavian Telegraph Bureau, said: Reprisals against England for the terror raids will come from a new weapon, making total war still more total. The British will never be able to use this weapon, which is not applicable to Germany. x Schroeder said Germany’s war production was largely unaffected by the bombing, because her factories have been removed to places that cannot be reached from the air. Schroeder predicted that several German cities would share Berlin’s fate. New Poison Gas i REPORTED GERMAN LAST RESORT. (Rec. 11.50) LONDON, Nov. 29. A “New York Times” correspondent in the Turkish capital stated: According to a responsible traveller from Germany, who reached Ankara, Germany has begun . large-scale manufacture of a new kind of poison gas, supposed to be the most effective ever produced. The traveller says she will use it the moment she is convinced that the war is lost. Although the Nazis know retaliation would be certain to follow. they claim that the Allies have not anything as ootent as this gas, and that even if its secret were discovered, it would be a long time before large quantities could be manufactured.