HITLER'S INDISPOSITION

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 7 March 1935, Page 5

HITLER'S INDISPOSITION

Unfortunate Effect on British Defence Debate PUBLICATION OF WHITE PAPER “STATEMENT ESSENTIAL” (British Official Wireless.) • Received 1.30 p.m. to-day. RLGBY, March 6.

The Daily Telegraph expresses the hope that Herr Hitler will speedily recover from his indisposition, and considers it is unfortunate from the British viewpoint that Monday’s Parliamentary debate will have to take place without -special enlightenment on Germany’s attitude to the Londou agreements, which the Foreign Secretary would have been able to contribute fresh from his conversations with Herr Hitler. Referring to the German Press criticism of the British White Paper, the Telegraph points out that tlio British standpoint had to be made known either before Sir John Simon’s visit or by the British representatives during the conversations unless the latter were to be carried on in an atmosphere of complete unreality. Moreover, the publication was vital to the instruction of th© British public opinion in regard to the new defence estimates. The date for their discussion in Parliament was fixed long before there was thought of this mission.

Asked in the House of Commons if •he had any idea when his meeting with Herr Hitler would take place, Sir John Simon said he was in communication with the German Government on that subject. Replying to ai further question from Mr George Lansbury whether he would advise his colleagues to withdraw the White Paper until after the conversations, the Foreign Secretary said, “No, sir i certainly not. I can hardly imagine anyone would wish to take seriously the suggestion that if you have a statement to make you should reserve it until after the conversations take place.” The London newspapers almost unnanimously deduce that Herr Hitler’s postponement of the conversations with Sir John Simon is due to the contents of the White Paper rather than to indisposition, though the possibility that the indisposition had developed is a’ecognised in view of the Leader’s exposure during liis visit to Saarbrucken, when he stood for hours without an overcoat in the rain.

It is learned definitely that Herr Hitler’s decision followed and did not precede his perusal of the White Paper Nevertheless, it is believed there is considerable disappointment in certain official circles at Berlin, in which the opinion is expressed that the Leader had everything to gain and nothing to lose by seeing Sir John Simon.

It is believed that the interview will take place in due course, but the diplomatic ground will require to be prepared anew.