SPEECH COMMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 1 May 1939, Page 5

SPEECH COMMENT

EY MR ROOSEVELT

AND NEW YORK PAPERS.

(United Press Association—By Electrk, Telegraph—Copyright),

NETV YORK, April 29

“Hitler has left the door open about an inch so far as peace in Europe is concerned,” President Roosevelt declared in reply to a direct question from Princess Martha of Norway, according to the “New York Times” and “New York Daily News” staff eor respondents assigned to Hyde. Park. The United Press correspondent, however, comments; “T am as near the President as anybody, but 1. could not place such an interpretation on the interchange.” President Roosevelt’s secretary refused to confirm or deny anything, asserting the President’s conversation with the Princess was purely personal.

Otherwise there is no hint of Mr Roosevelt’s reaction.

The “New York Times” Washington correspondent reported that official circles there regarded the speech as leaving the door slightly ajar lor discussion of specific questions, such as trade, and possibly-also armament limitation, if the opportunity is offered, but if is felt- that there is no doubt Herr Hitler has closed the door to any general' conference for an adjustment of' Europe’s'difficulties. ■ placed importance on Herr Hitler’s rancour and sarcasm, due to their effects upon the German people, who feel keenly that they were betrayed after the armistice. Whether there will be any official statement in • regard to the speech depends largely on whether Mr Roosevelt, and Air Hull choose to regard it as a forma] reply to Air Roosevelt’s message. There at present is no indication of the attitude on this question. Although Air Roosevelt has completed a draft of his World’s Fair speech for delivery on Sunday before Hitler spoke, there is much speculation as to whether he will extemporaneously insert comments on Herr Hitler’s answer. A symposium of the American newspaper reaction to Herr Hitler’s speech shows almost as many different views as there are leading article writers. The comments demonstrate graphically the unsettled state of the American mind regarding the European situation. Some stocks spurted early, but soon lost .the gains. On the whole there seemed little reaction on the exchange Some leading article writers drew hope from Herr Hitler’s assertions that he abhorred bloodshed. Afost writers took a pessimistic attitude, considering that the speech has made it clear that Herr Hitler is resolved to build an Empire, which course, they held, would lead inevitable to general war. Some writers asserted Herr Hitler’s answer was inadequate, or even ridiculous.

Some writers felt that Herr Hitler, in effect, slapped Mr Roosevelt’s face, and they blamed Mr Roosevelt for making possible such a rebuke. The “New York Tribune” says: “To wade through that turgid mass of bad manners, bad history, bad argument, melagomaniac distortions, debaters’ tricks, and plain misuses of language, is to experience intense irritation. Herr Hitler might, without committing himself, have parried the indictment. and perhaps have even helped somewhat to clear the sulphurous air. Instead, he came near to pleading guilty to it.”

The “New York Bail.v News” savs: “Tt was a debaters’ field day. Herr Hitler, for all his. fantastic ideas, is a. shrewd debater. We think that the German people are now more unitedly behind Herr Hitler qs fhe result of the speech, so w.o move, that this public debate now takes an adjournment, and a long one' l .” ;

The “Boston Herald” says: “Most Americans would anpland President Roosevelt if he would retire from the role pf- nssuager, and let our neutrality policy, and our huge appropriation for stronger land and sea forces speak for themselves. He has juggler] with sticks of dynamite long enough.”

The Betroit “Free Press” s«vr ; “An expert umpire would be obliged to award the verbal bout to Herr Hitler on points. Much of what Hitler said was hollow specious, but Mr Roosevelt’s amateurishness is exposed by the fact that he madp such openings needlessly and recklessly when there was neither the occasion nor the need. Points made by other newspapers were: (lj That the speech showed Herr Hitler lias not swerved from a policy of force, arid that Banzig will he next: (2) that America should follow France’s example of being strong enough to argue with Herr Hitler in terms of guns, planes and ships: (3) that,' boiled down, Herr Hitler said he will take what he can in any way lie can get it. BERLIN COMMENT. BERLIN, April 29. The press here abuses and derides President Roosevelt, being in marked contrast with Hitler, who used restrained sarcasm in his speech. The “Lokal Anzeiger” says: Is there a mortal in the world who would todav want to ho Mr Roosevelt? Flogged and branded, there stands in the pillory of humanity a man who has discredited his name! Marshal Goering’s paper, the “National Zeitung,” savs: Only time will show whether tho bitter lesson which

the Poles and President Roosevelt have had to learn again will induce them to cease deceiving themselves. Tf they don’t the final result of Germany’s policy will harm them and their nations. “A strong mixture of truculence and conciliation,” is the opinion of foreign diplomats regarding Herr Hitler’s speech. Herr Hitler revealed that Germany seized in Czechoslovakia 1582 aeroplanes, 500 guns, 785 trench mortars, 25,000 machine-guns, 1,090,000 rifles, 3,000,000 gas shells, and thousands of tanks.