SEVERITY OF TERMS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 134, 8 May 1945, Page 7

SEVERITY OF TERMS

EMPHASIS BY GERMAN. NEW RESPECT FOR LAW. (Rec. 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, May 7‘‘Alter almost six years ot struggle we have succumbed to tlie overwhelming power of our enemy,” said tlie German Foreign Minister (Ivrosigk) addressing the German people over the Flensburg radio. “No one must deceive himself about the severity of the conditions. We had to accept them. “To continue the war would only mean senseless bloodshed and 1 utile disintegration. The Government, which has a feeling of responsibility lor the future of the nation, was compelled to act on tlie collapse of all the physical anil material resources, and to demand from tlio enemy the cessation of hostilities. “Our sympathy goes out to our soldiers. No one must have any doubt that heavy sacrifices will be demanded from us in all spheres ol lile. Me must take them upon ns anil stand loyally to our obligations. “On the other hand we must not despair. We must keep one. thing in •mind —unity. We shall need unity. It is the foundation of our people. Wc must acknowledge the supremo law of right from inner conviction. “It is the noblest task of Admiral Docnitz and tlio Government supporting him, after the terrible sacrifices which the war has demanded, to save in the last phase of the war the lives of the maximum number of our fellow countrymen. In the gravest hour of the German nation and Reich, wo bow in deep reverence before the dead of this war. Their sacrifices place the highest obligations on us. “Our sympathy goes, out, above all, to the wounded and bereaved and all those on whom the struggle lias inflicted blows. “MUST FACE FATE.”

“No one must he under any illusions about the severity of the terms to be imposed on the German people by our enemies. Me must lace our late squarely and unquestiouiiigly. ‘‘We must not despair or fall into mute resignation. M’e once again must set ourselves to stride along the path through the dark future. Let us preserve our ideas of the national community which, in the years of the war, found their highest expression in the spirit of comradeship at the front and the readiness to help one another in all the distress which affheted our homeland.

“M'e must recognise and respect the law as the basis of all relations between nations. Our respect lor treaties will ho as sacred as the linn of our nation to belong to the European family, of nations. As a member of the European family ol nations wc want to mobilise all our human, moral and material'forces in order to heal the dreadful wounds caused by the war. We may hope tliat the atmosphere of hatred which today surrounds Germany will give place to a spirit of reconciliation iimong the nations without which tlie’ World cannot recover.”

U-BOATS AS PIRATES (Rec, 12.30 p.m.) OTTAWA, May 7. Naval Headquarters announce that pirn Le 11-linats might continue to harass tlie shipping lanes so tile Canaihan Navy’s ant i-suhnial ine patrol in llie North Atlantic will not he inline.lialol.v i‘olaxe.l. I’atrol eseolT Work will ciiiililiue until it is known that all the German submarines have obeyed the orders to . slop lighting.