BRITISH VIEW OF GERMANY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 94, 21 March 1939, Page 7

BRITISH VIEW OF GERMANY

FOREIGN SECRETARY SPEAKS PLAINLY DELIBERATE PROVOCATION BEFORE COUP (British Official Wireless.) Received March 21, 11.5 a.m. < RUGBY, March 20. An unusually large attendance of Peers heard the statement on the Central European crisis by the {secretary of btate for Foreign Aitairs (Dol'd Halifax) in the House of Lords today. The Minister began by reviewing the explanations or excuses by the German apologist for the actions of Herr Hitler’s Government —explanations which, he said, earned scant conviction. It was impossible to believe that the sudden decision of certain Slovak leaders to break away from Prague, which was followed by a request for German protection, was reached independently of outside influence.

As to the alleged maltreatment of the German minorities, it was only very shortly before Herr Hitler’s ultimatum to Dr Hacha (former Czech President) that the German Press renewed its campaign of last summer on behalf of the minorities, which had been deliberately encouraged to remain m Czechoslovakia after the Munich talks, as centres of German activity and propaganda, Lord Halifax added. It was difficult to avoid the conclusion that the bulk of the incidents vhich were held out as justifying German intervention were deliberately provoked.

“CZECHS CAPITULATED.” Coming to the visit of Dr. Hacha to Berlin and the suggestmn that he freely consented to the subjugation ol bis people, Lord Halifax observed. ‘•ln view of the circumstances in which he came to Berlin and of the occupatmn nf Czech territory which had alreauj takeiTplace, I think most sensible pern pie must conclude that there was htt e nretence of negotiation and it is more probable that the Czech representatives thev capitulated in order to save: tneir people from the horrors of a swift and d Xfo7eign r^cr b e°t n an ar Sn refertxM British protest hy t the cancel Si B ° f aS e ti”Ull of her Arnbasdor The Government, he said, hit a development of under, and, n»on trade matters was(now out of f things tion and that and - ] postwould have to remain indefinitely pu poned.

EVENTS BELIE PROMISES. After defending the Munich seK tlement and the policy winch R>llm ed it as one not persona! to the niier, but supported by , • Jg _ the whole Cabinet, and as fu lj 1 tified. Lord Halifax said that the long-term policy envisaged in the de claration of Herr Hitler and Mi Chamberlain of budding »P P« lul Europe on the basis ot tree con saltation on all differences had been disastrously belied by events. ••What inference, the Minister ask ed “are we to draw from this P res ’ sure exercised under a threat o force’ and intervention in the interim K+rtio ,fT l6S of other States. Y* - country which is Germany’s neighbour J now uncertain of to-morrow, and every country which values its national ‘ identity and sovereignty stands warned against a danger from within inspired from without.

RUMANIA’S FEARS After mentioning the denial of the Rumanian Government of the reported German ultimatum on trade matters the* 3 gravest misgivings the happenings of the last few days.